untimely

1 of 3

adverb

un·​time·​ly ˌən-ˈtīm-lē 

1

: at an inopportune time : unseasonably

… thought I was mad, or most untimely merry …

—T. E. Lawrence

2

: before the due, natural, or proper time : prematurely

went untimely to the grave

untimely

2 of 3

adjective

1

: inopportune, unseasonable

an untimely joke

untimely frost

2

a

: occurring or done before the due, natural, or proper time : too early : premature

an untimely death

b

: not made, done, or submitted within a set time period

an untimely petition

untimeliness noun

untimeliness

3 of 3

noun

un·​timeliness

"+

: the quality or state of being untimely

Synonyms of untimely

Adjective

• early
• premature
• unexpected
• sudden
• inopportune

Examples of untimely in a Sentence

Adjective

the untimely arrival of our guests caught us by surprise

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Since the mysterious deaths of a husband and wife in the Medici family, a powerful Italian dynasty that ruled Florence and Tuscany almost uninterruptedly from 1434 to 1737, rumors have swirled about what led to the couple’s untimely demise. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Plans for low volume road-car production were curtailed by Bruce’s untimely death while testing at Goodwood in 1970, and the original has been something of a dusty footnote until now. — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 13 July 2026

This is the first time, however, that a velociraptor has pushed a player to an untimely exit. — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 11 July 2026

Horatio, the middle name of the Charles Underwood, appears only in the record of his birth, on February 19, 1807, to Richard and Elisabeth Underwood of Pleasant Row in London, and in the report on the inquest into his untimely death. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for untimely

• sublimely
• timely

Kids Definition

untimely

adjective

un·​time·​ly

ˌən-ˈtīm-lē, 

ˈən-

1

: occurring or done before the expected, natural, or proper time : premature

untimely death

2

: coming at the wrong time

an untimely joke

Legal Definition

untimely

adjective

un·​time·​ly

ˌən-ˈtīm-lē

: not timely

especially : not made or filed within a period of time specified by procedural rule

an untimely petition

untimeliness noun

untimely adverb