timelier; timeliest
1
: coming early or at the right time
a timely decision
timely payment
2
: appropriate or adapted to the times or the occasion
a timely book
timeliness
noun
1
: in time : opportunely
the question was not … timely raised in the state court—
W. O. Douglas
W. O. Douglas
Synonyms
Examples of timely in a Sentence
Adjective
Her very timely book examines the effects of global warming on the world's climates.
She always responds to my requests in a timely fashion.
Recent Examples on the WebEda Yu, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
As the hype builds around this remarkable event, brands are rushing to capitalize on its significance with some timely fun and puns.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
But Haywood Highsmith made a timely three-pointer to end the scoreless drought, putting the Heat back ahead by three points with 3:48 left.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The family's lawyers contended the boy suffered brain damage when an attending obstetrician and four nurses didn't perform a timely Caesarean section on his mother.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 2 Apr. 2024
The auction house hopes to fill a gap in the market by offering top-tier vehicles to collectors in a convenient and timely manner.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
The king’s public appearance will provide a timely boost to the royal family, which has been beset by illness and media speculation.
—Henry Austin, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
Forecasting outcomes ahead of time enables more effective, timely interventions which reduces adverse outcomes.
—Dr. Tejaswi Kompala, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Transparency requires timely disclosure, clear communications to relevant audiences, and explicit standards of documentation.
—Rebecca Finlay, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Fans love the timely, relevant story—especially Liciapru, who gave props to host Hannah Miller, a Bloomberg crypto and tech reporter.
—Eda Yu, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
As the hype builds around this remarkable event, brands are rushing to capitalize on its significance with some timely fun and puns.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
But Haywood Highsmith made a timely three-pointer to end the scoreless drought, putting the Heat back ahead by three points with 3:48 left.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The family's lawyers contended the boy suffered brain damage when an attending obstetrician and four nurses didn't perform a timely Caesarean section on his mother.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 2 Apr. 2024
The auction house hopes to fill a gap in the market by offering top-tier vehicles to collectors in a convenient and timely manner.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
The king’s public appearance will provide a timely boost to the royal family, which has been beset by illness and media speculation.
—Henry Austin, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
Forecasting outcomes ahead of time enables more effective, timely interventions which reduces adverse outcomes.
—Dr. Tejaswi Kompala, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Transparency requires timely disclosure, clear communications to relevant audiences, and explicit standards of documentation.
—Rebecca Finlay, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'timely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near timely
Cite this Entry
“Timely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/timely. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
timely
adjective
time·ly
ˈtīm-lē
timelier; timeliest
1
: coming early or at the right time
2
: especially suitable for the time
a timely book
timeliness
noun
Legal Definition
timely
adjective
time·ly
ˈtīm-lē
: falling within a prescribed or reasonable time
timely notice
timeliness
noun
timely
adverb
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