time frame
noun
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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
Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 23 Dec. 2025
Several periods of heavy precipitation are expected within the Tuesday through Friday time frame.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 Dec. 2025
He was also questioned about missing binders of evidence and an 11-month gap in Acosta’s incoming emails that coincided with the time frame that Epstein’s deal was negotiated.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
The Cardinals are tied for fifth with 29 sacks allowed over that same time frame.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for time frame
Cite this Entry
“Time frame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time%20frame. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.
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