time frame

noun

variants or less commonly timeframe

ˈtīm-ˌfrām 

: a period of time especially with respect to some action or project

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time frame or timeframe?

Should time frame be written as one word or two? At present, it is most commonly styled as two words with no hyphen in between.

Compounds, or “words consisting of components that are words,” come in three varieties: open (two words with a space between them, such as lima bean), hyphenated (two words with a hyphen between them, such as runner-up), and closed (one word, such as rowboat). In some cases, competing compound stylings appear in different publications. This is generally acceptable as long as the spelling remains consistent throughout a book or periodical.

Compounds have a tendency to move from open to closed as time goes by, and our evidence suggests that time frame is headed in this direction. At this point, however, the open compound is far more prevalent.

Examples of time frame in a Sentence

They were not able to finish the project within the established time frame.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Ducks haven’t finalized a date for Terry’s hip surgery or a definite time frame for his recovery. —Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026

There is a limit of 160 fish per boat per open time frame. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026

During that time frame, visitors, who are 17 or younger, must be accompanied by a parent or a supervising adult, who is at least 21. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 19 May 2026

That’s roughly 50% higher than the average over the past five years over the same time frame, when 23,315 acres burned. —Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for time frame

• aspartame
• counterclaim
• overcame
• underframe
• username
• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame