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

Celebrities have all had fun recently bringing back flashy archival runway pieces, and Clooney’s look showcases vintage at its most timeless. — Vogue, "Amal Clooney Pulled Out Vintage Couture to Dine at Buckingham Palace," 13 Mar. 2019 Originally inspired by Audrey Hepburn, the style is classic and timeless, just like Meghan. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Here's Why People Are Copying Meghan Markle's Eyebrows," 27 Jan. 2019 Despite their graphic, multicolored designs, there’s something grounded and timeless about Silvano’s coats. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "Still Need a Winter Coat? Milena Silvano’s Upcycled Sheepskins Belong at the Top Your Wish List," 10 Jan. 2019 Aclassic is a book that never grows old, but a translation of a classic is not quite as timeless. — Martin Riker, WSJ, "‘Hell’ Review: The Wholly Lost Below," 1 Feb. 2019 Mary Poppins is one of cinema’s most timeless heroines — a no-nonsense nanny who brings her young charges on whimsical adventures while subtly helping them learn to navigate life’s difficulties. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "The 9 Oscar contenders coming out in December," 3 Dec. 2018 Richardson brings a timeless elegance to decor that feels accessible, but still totally swoon-worthy. — Sienna Fantozzi, House Beautiful, "Why Sarah Richardson Is One Of Our Favorite HGTV Stars," 8 Nov. 2018 For more timeless recipes like this, check out The Good Housekeeping Cookbook. — The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Harvest Pear-Blackberry Pie," 23 Oct. 2018 Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg Those longing for the timeless elegance of Old World Europe need look no further than the Fairmont Hotel. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Hotels in Europe: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards," 9 Oct. 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.