time frame

noun

variants or less commonly timeframe

ˈtīm-ˌfrām 

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

Did you know?

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

In the same time frame, inner-ring suburbs have lost residents. —Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026

More over the glide body is also likely to experience these thermal loads for a longer time frame. —Adityajadhav, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026

Both teams will begin play next season, which is an impressive time frame considering the league's Walter Cup Final between the Ottawa Charge and Montreal Victoire is about to get underway this week. —Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026

Residents and businesses in the boil water region also should not use any ice that was made by an ice maker during the advisory time frame. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 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