un·time·ly
ˌən-ˈtīm-lē 
1
: at an inopportune time : unseasonably
… thought I was mad, or most untimely merry …—
T. E. Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence2
: before the due, natural, or proper time : prematurely
went untimely to the grave
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
Examples of untimely in a Sentence
Adjective
the untimely arrival of our guests caught us by surprise
Recent Examples on the Web
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
The Bills finished the game with 100 more yards than the Broncos, but were undone by untimely turnovers — five total as a team, including four by Josh Allen, who had committed only six turnovers through his first 14 playoff games prior to tonight.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer teased an untimely fate for Steve Harrington during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; following the finale, clips of a table read for that pivotal scene have been making the rounds.
—Josh Glicksman, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2026
The minister and founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led the Civil Rights movement from the mid-1950s through the 1960s until his untimely death in Memphis.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for untimely
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The Found Object Society centers on a woman who, haunted by her parent’s untimely deaths, joins a mysterious secret society that lets her relive people’s final moments just by touching their personal objects.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
The Bills finished the game with 100 more yards than the Broncos, but were undone by untimely turnovers — five total as a team, including four by Josh Allen, who had committed only six turnovers through his first 14 playoff games prior to tonight.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer teased an untimely fate for Steve Harrington during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; following the finale, clips of a table read for that pivotal scene have been making the rounds.
—Josh Glicksman, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2026
The minister and founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led the Civil Rights movement from the mid-1950s through the 1960s until his untimely death in Memphis.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for untimely
Cite this Entry
“Untimely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untimely. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
