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
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Former Royals players and fans are still in shock over the untimely death of Terrance Gore.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2013, six years after her mother’s untimely death from cancer, Angelina Jolie made the choice to undergo a preventative double mastectomy.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026
Jake LaRavia was destined to play for the LA Lakers, the team of his father's youth, closing a family loop of boyhood dreams and untimely death, Gregg Doyel writes.
—Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for untimely
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Adjective
One of the most iconic couples of the 1990s, Carolyn and John’s place in Kennedy history was canonized by their untimely death by plane crash in 1999.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Former Royals players and fans are still in shock over the untimely death of Terrance Gore.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2013, six years after her mother’s untimely death from cancer, Angelina Jolie made the choice to undergo a preventative double mastectomy.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026
Jake LaRavia was destined to play for the LA Lakers, the team of his father's youth, closing a family loop of boyhood dreams and untimely death, Gregg Doyel writes.
—Joe Mutascio, IndyStar, 10 Feb. 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 18 Feb. 2026.
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