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
Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
He was also haunted much of his life by the untimely death of his brother Duane – the band's spectacular guitarist – and plagued by addictions.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Johnston had some untimely drops that year.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Aldon Smith's brain will be donated by his family to the Boston University CTE Center following his untimely death over the weekend.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for untimely
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Adjective
Led by the top-three all-around results from Charleigh Bullock, Claire Pease, and Simone Rose, the Americans triumphed after an untimely exit from 2024 Olympic gold medalist and team veteran Hezly Rivera.
—Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
He was also haunted much of his life by the untimely death of his brother Duane – the band's spectacular guitarist – and plagued by addictions.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Johnston had some untimely drops that year.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Aldon Smith's brain will be donated by his family to the Boston University CTE Center following his untimely death over the weekend.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 June 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 20 Jun. 2026.
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