Definition of TIMELESS

Did You Know?

Time is money. "Time is the great physician." "Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations." Everyone seems to know what time is, but what does it mean to be "timeless"—that is, "without time"? Until around the turn of the 20th century, timeless was sometimes used to mean "untimely" or "premature," as in "he met his timeless end." That usage, which dates back to the late 16th century, is now considered archaic, but an equally venerable sense, "eternal" or "having no beginning or end," has proven more enduring. The two remaining senses are somewhat newer. The "not restricted to a particular time or date" meaning dates to the mid-18th century, while the most modern meaning—"ageless"—didn't exist until just before the turn of the 20th century. (By the way, the quotations we started with came from Benjamin Franklin, British statesman Benjamin Disraeli, and American writer Faith Baldwin, respectively.)

Examples of timeless in a Sentence

The dresses that she designs are elegant and timeless. the timeless beauty of the sea

Recent Examples on the Web

Even though the designer was unexpected, the timeless quality of the wedding dress had people drawing comparisons to Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy looks from the '50s. — Lyndsey Matthews, Town & Country, "Was Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress a Nod to Princess Angela of Liechtenstein?," 23 May 2018 Almost all the themes in Duruflé’s requiem are taken from the chants of the Gregorian Requiem, giving the work a timeless, mystical quality. — Patrick Neas, kansascity, "Kansas City Symphony Chorus’ requiem will offer a balm for the soul | The Kansas City Star," 11 May 2018 For this revival, which played the McCarter last month before coming to the Long Wharf, Taylor makes sure the show seems current yet also has a timeless quality. — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, "An Exhilarating, Riveting 'Crowns' At Long Wharf," 26 Apr. 2018 Trends come and go, but there are some things that are truly timeless. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "8 Signs Your Home Is Stuck In The '90s," 10 July 2018 The looping six-second video clips, by virtue of their short time frame and focus on capturing individual moments of humor, are almost timeless. — Madeline Buxton, refinery29.com, "Vine Is Dead, But The Internet Is Determined To Keep It Alive," 21 June 2018 From Oprah Winfrey’s blooming blossoms to Amal Clooney’s timeless look, Doria Ragland’s sweet beret and Camilla Parker Bowles’ over-the-top number, take a peek at some of the greatest hats and fascinators spotted at Windsor Castle on May 19. — Janine Puhak, Fox News, "Royal wedding 2018: Best hats and fascinators," 19 May 2018 But will terrazzo’s dizzying new direction stand the test of time? Dan Brunn says there’s a lot of terrazzo being made right now that’s far from timeless, as is bound to be the case with any interior trend that burns hot. — Jessica Furseth, Curbed, "How terrazzo made a comeback," 13 June 2018 Titles announce the 14 or so states the protagonists pass through, and all design contributions flavorfully evoke an off-grid U.S. that seems timeless (and/or forgotten), without straying into nostalgic idealization. — Dennis Harvey, chicagotribune.com, "'American Folk' review: On the road, with strong statement on 9/11," 25 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'timeless.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.