timeline

noun

time·​line ˈtīm-ˌlīn 

variants or time line

plural timelines or time lines

1

a

: an arrangement or occurrence (as of past events) in time : chronology

After interviewing the suspect, the wardens pieced together a timeline of events and gathered enough evidence to file appropriate charges …

—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

b

: a visual representation of events associated with a particular period of time arranged chronologically along a line or in a linear format

The book also includes a timeline, showing which dinosaurs lived when and where, and how the Earth has changed over millions of years.

—The Children's Bookwatch

In her "Foundations of Western Civilization" course … Prof. Julia Gossard has her students create a timeline of the history of food …

—Thomas Keith

c

: a schedule of planned events, actions, etc. : timetable sense 2

With just under a year left until your nuptials, here's what's next on your wedding planning timeline.

—Sarah Hanlon

Giving the client a say in every step of the project could create a delay and throw off the timeline …

—Katie Bates

2

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

And what's the timeline for implementing these changes?

—Mark Sovel

The stakes are high, and the timeline is tight.

—Rio Longacre

… school districts can't open before Labor Day and must end by June 15. But to meet that compressed timeline … , districts have had to consider trade-offs.

—Donna St. George

3

: a stream of social media posts : feed sense 3e

Algorithmic timelines quietly replaced chronological ones, until our social-media feeds no longer took direction from us, but rather directed us where they wanted us to go.

—Yair Rosenberg

And if there's something funny … I make sure to Retweet so others can cleanse their timeline and enjoy.

—Andy Richardson

4

: a branch of a theoretical multiverse that exists in parallel with other branches

… the notion that we're surrounded by a multitude of parallel selves, one of which might be living in a better timeline than the one we're stuck in.

—S. I. Rosenbaum

—used especially in science fiction

… Dune: Awakening is set in an "alternate" timeline from the original Frank Herbert novels, where something has happened to change the course of history.

—Wes Fenlon

Examples of timeline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Given that potential timeline, the idea of pushing back the California drilling analysis and laying low on the subject — granted, that’s not Trump’s style — might eventually seem like a good one in retrospect. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2026

By lifting his initial order, the judge appears to be making room for the refund process to play out, though the exact timeline of refunds remains unclear. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026

According to a timeline released by the Department of Public Safety and the criminal complaint, Miller is believed to have killed Oldroyd first. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2026

Tax refunds, bonuses, or any unexpected income routed directly into savings can accelerate your timeline significantly. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026

In the ride’s queue, for instance, guests in line will walk past a wall that features a timeline of many a Lego space set. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

As timelines tighten, the next imperative is how companies work with the partners that make these projects possible. —Travis Edmonds, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026

The pace of this campaign is unprecedented, upending most norms of warfare and its old timelines. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026

Already, this Administration has presented ever-changing reasons, undetermined goals, and uncertain timelines for this conflict. —Derek Tran, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1b