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
Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
To mark Reiner’s untimely death this winter, the New Parkway Theater in Oakland is holding a daylong marathon of his works on Sunday.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Snyder asked for a new trial on his conviction for defrauding the IRS in federal court filings in October, while federal prosecutors responded that his request was untimely and without merit.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for untimely
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Adjective
Back in the real world, Gracie has retreated into silence since the untimely death of her father, and a move to rural Wyoming — where her out-of-commission cellist mother Emily (Tran) has taken a job teaching community college — hasn’t exactly brought her out of her shell.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
To mark Reiner’s untimely death this winter, the New Parkway Theater in Oakland is holding a daylong marathon of his works on Sunday.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Snyder asked for a new trial on his conviction for defrauding the IRS in federal court filings in October, while federal prosecutors responded that his request was untimely and without merit.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for untimely
Cite this Entry
“Untimely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untimely. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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