timeline

noun

time·​line ˈtīm-ˌlīn 

variants or time line

plural timelines or time lines

1

a

: an arrangement or occurrence (as of past events) in time : chronology

After interviewing the suspect, the wardens pieced together a timeline of events and gathered enough evidence to file appropriate charges …

—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

b

: a visual representation of events associated with a particular period of time arranged chronologically along a line or in a linear format

The book also includes a timeline, showing which dinosaurs lived when and where, and how the Earth has changed over millions of years.

—The Children's Bookwatch

In her "Foundations of Western Civilization" course … Prof. Julia Gossard has her students create a timeline of the history of food …

—Thomas Keith

c

: a schedule of planned events, actions, etc. : timetable sense 2

With just under a year left until your nuptials, here's what's next on your wedding planning timeline.

—Sarah Hanlon

Giving the client a say in every step of the project could create a delay and throw off the timeline …

—Katie Bates

2

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

And what's the timeline for implementing these changes?

—Mark Sovel

The stakes are high, and the timeline is tight.

—Rio Longacre

… school districts can't open before Labor Day and must end by June 15. But to meet that compressed timeline … , districts have had to consider trade-offs.

—Donna St. George

3

: a stream of social media posts : feed sense 3e

Algorithmic timelines quietly replaced chronological ones, until our social-media feeds no longer took direction from us, but rather directed us where they wanted us to go.

—Yair Rosenberg

And if there's something funny … I make sure to Retweet so others can cleanse their timeline and enjoy.

—Andy Richardson

4

: a branch of a theoretical multiverse that exists in parallel with other branches

… the notion that we're surrounded by a multitude of parallel selves, one of which might be living in a better timeline than the one we're stuck in.

—S. I. Rosenbaum

—used especially in science fiction

… Dune: Awakening is set in an "alternate" timeline from the original Frank Herbert novels, where something has happened to change the course of history.

—Wes Fenlon

Examples of timeline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The motion was filed on November 4, and his attorney estimates a two- to three-month timeline. —Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025

That, however, risks the ire of the Israelis and their cooperation in the effort, especially if the Republican president were to promise a detailed timeline of benchmarks to be met. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025

There is no timeline for Jackson's potential release as his prognosis remains uncertain. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025

Here’s a timeline of the crash and its aftermath. —Stephanie Stremplewski, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Nov. 2025

Congress funds, White House cuts The NIH often awards five-year grants, and scientists tend to structure their research around that timeline. —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 15 Nov. 2025

The new voice applies to the whole clip and isn't editable on the timeline. —PC Magazine, 15 Nov. 2025

Davis, naturally, is hurt again, and the timeline for Irving’s return remains unclear. —Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2025

See timeline of Disney, YouTube TV contract dispute The quarrel between Disney and YouTube TV began in mid-October. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1b