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. DouglasExamples 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 Web
Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
How exactly did writer-director Kleber Mendonça Filho take such grim history and add so many other genres and tones, from slapstick humor to Hitchcockian thrills to gentle family melodrama, into something this cohesive, timely — and funny?
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
The Heat, which had 10 players available, overcame its poor shooting for three quarters by crashing the offensive glass, playing strong defense (at least until the fourth) and hitting some timely threes.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
King’s return felt like a timely boost for the Padres and their fans — a reminder that the Padres have a real shot to reach a third consecutive postseason.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for timely
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Adjective
Many are more likely to be disabled, homebound or reliant on medical devices, and those who live alone or speak limited English may struggle to access timely help.
—Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
How exactly did writer-director Kleber Mendonça Filho take such grim history and add so many other genres and tones, from slapstick humor to Hitchcockian thrills to gentle family melodrama, into something this cohesive, timely — and funny?
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
The Heat, which had 10 players available, overcame its poor shooting for three quarters by crashing the offensive glass, playing strong defense (at least until the fourth) and hitting some timely threes.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
King’s return felt like a timely boost for the Padres and their fans — a reminder that the Padres have a real shot to reach a third consecutive postseason.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for timely
Cite this Entry
“Timely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/timely. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.
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