timely

[tahym-lee]

adjective

timelier, timeliest 

1. occurring at a suitable time; opportune; well-timed.

   Our priority is to identify threats against the U.S. and provide accurate, timely warnings.

2. occurring within an expected time frame; prompt.

   To ensure timely delivery, orders with multiple products may ship separately.

3. Archaic.,  early.

adverb

1. seasonably; opportunely.

2. Archaic.,  early or soon.

timely

/ ˈtaɪmlɪ /

adjective

1. at the right or an opportune or appropriate time

2. an archaic word for early

Other Word Forms

• timeliness noun
• pretimely adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of timely¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English tim(e)liche, Old English tīmlīce (adverb); time, -ly

Synonym Study

See opportune.

Example Sentences

But when the crisis finally emerges, it may be hard to fix it in a timely fashion.

Read more on Barron's

Ms. Casey’s book restores craftsmanship to its central place in the making of beautiful buildings, a timely reminder as our own world moves toward ever more mechanized production.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The cast is excellent, the staging is graceful and the political message could not be more timely.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Baroness Hallett said the recommendations should be acted upon and implemented in a "timely manner" to better protect the people of Northern Ireland.

Read more on BBC

Timeless but timely, pure and apt for this fraught and divisive time in history.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appropriate 
• convenient 
• prompt 
• proper 
• up-to-date 
• up-to-the-minute