timely

1 of 3

adjective

time·​ly ˈtīm-lē 

timelier; timeliest

1

: coming early or at the right time

a timely decision

timely payment

2

: appropriate or adapted to the times or the occasion

a timely book

timeliness noun

timely

2 of 3

adverb

1

: in time : opportunely

… the question was not … timely raised in the state court.

—W. O. Douglas

2

archaic : early, soon

timeliness

3 of 3

noun

time·​li·​ness

ˈtīmlēnə̇s, 

-lin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being timely

Synonyms of timely

Adjective

• seasonable
• opportune
• appropriate
• proper
• anticipated
• well-timed
• expected
• relevant
• suitable
• pertinent

Examples of timely in a Sentence

Adjective

Her very timely book examines the effects of global warming on the world's climates.

She always responds to my requests in a timely fashion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

For more on this, check out STAT’s Katie Palmer’s excellent addition to her timely series Paying for AI, which examines how new clinical AI tools influence the affordability of health care and patients’ long-term health. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

Its retrospective past tense of course could not have encompassed these very latest aesthetic and cultural features of late America, and in that interim the very past this timely book studies has already become a more foreign country. — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026

The episode is unfortunately timely, amid the infuriating story of the Cornell 7, the name coined online for the seven male students at Cornell University who are accused of drugging and gang raping a female classmate in October 2024. — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026

Specific and timely intelligence has also come to Iran from Russia. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for timely

• sublimely
• untimely

Kids Definition

timely

adjective

time·​ly

ˈtīm-lē

timelier; timeliest

1

: coming early or at the right time

2

: especially suitable for the time

a timely book

timeliness noun

Legal Definition

timely

adjective

time·​ly

ˈtīm-lē

: falling within a prescribed or reasonable time

timely notice

timeliness noun

timely adverb