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 WebVulture Staff, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2023
Aside from a few timely winks to TikTok and Ozempic, the book and lyrics by Monty Python vet Eric Idle (who collaborated on the music with John Du Prez) leans heavily on nostalgia for various layers of IP dating all the way back to the fifth century.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023
What Are the Signs of Alcohol Poisoning? Recognizing the signs of alcohol poisoning is crucial for timely intervention.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023
This week in the fashion world there is a bevy of news that is timely and worth taking a deep dive into.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
Students from both sides have criticized Chancellor Pradeep Khosla’s public statements, which some have called insufficiently thorough, timely and empathetic.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
Harrison Bard, Custom Cones USA Communicate in a Timely Manner
Authentic and timely communication, whether with a client or team member, is key.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2023
While it was scheduled months ago, the class was timely in light of the recent increase in Islamophobic incidents, said Sheikh Faiyaz Jaffer of the Islamic Center at NYU.
—Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2023
Getting people treated right away Testing someone for syphilis doesn't necessarily mean they'll get treated, though: Out of almost 2,200 congenital syphilis cases last year in which the infant's birth parent received timely testing, just 12% received adequate treatment, according to the CDC report.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023
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Adjective
Michael Mann’s 1981 film Thief starring James Caan is a timely and timeless classic, and artist Brianna Ashby’s print captures both Caan’s prevailing disgruntlement and the film’s beautifully neo-noir aesthetic.
—Vulture Staff, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2023
Aside from a few timely winks to TikTok and Ozempic, the book and lyrics by Monty Python vet Eric Idle (who collaborated on the music with John Du Prez) leans heavily on nostalgia for various layers of IP dating all the way back to the fifth century.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023
What Are the Signs of Alcohol Poisoning? Recognizing the signs of alcohol poisoning is crucial for timely intervention.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023
This week in the fashion world there is a bevy of news that is timely and worth taking a deep dive into.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023
Students from both sides have criticized Chancellor Pradeep Khosla’s public statements, which some have called insufficiently thorough, timely and empathetic.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
Harrison Bard, Custom Cones USA Communicate in a Timely Manner
Authentic and timely communication, whether with a client or team member, is key.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2023
While it was scheduled months ago, the class was timely in light of the recent increase in Islamophobic incidents, said Sheikh Faiyaz Jaffer of the Islamic Center at NYU.
—Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2023
Getting people treated right away Testing someone for syphilis doesn't necessarily mean they'll get treated, though: Out of almost 2,200 congenital syphilis cases last year in which the infant's birth parent received timely testing, just 12% received adequate treatment, according to the CDC report.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023
See More
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 30 Nov. 2023.
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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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