timeline

American  

[tahym-lahyn] / ˈtaɪmˌlaɪn /

Or time line

noun

1. a linear representation of important events in the order in which they occurred.

2. a schedule; timetable.

3. Digital Technology.

   1. a collection of online posts or updates associated with a specific social media account, in reverse chronological order.

   2. timeline bar.

4. an alternate reality in which events unfold differently, often beginning at a single identifiable moment of divergence that establishes a distinct but recognizable parallel existence: We’re stuck in the darkest timeline, trapped in a dystopian nightmare.

   My free-love hippie mom just got engaged to a hedge fund manager—what timeline am I living in?

   We’re stuck in the darkest timeline, trapped in a dystopian nightmare.

---

timeline British  

/ ˈtaɪmˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a graphic representation showing the passage of time as a line

2. a time frame during which something is scheduled to happen

---

Usage

What is a timeline? A timeline is a visual representation of chronological events on a line. Timelines are often used in videos, textbooks, articles, or other media that is recounting history. In online news and entertainment, a timeline is also often used to keep track of events as they happen, especially for pressing stories such as major world events and important elections. On social media, a timeline is a broad term that refers to a collection of posts on someone’s account. For example, on Twitter, a user’s timeline is full of posts that they and those they follow create in an order determined by algorithm. While some social media sites might officially refer to such a collection as a page, board, or home, they can all casually be called timelines. Example: To recreate a timeline of events from that evening, we will need as many details as possible.

Etymology

Origin of timeline

First recorded in 1950–55; time ( def. ) + line ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

A timeline is a list of important events arranged in the order in which they happened. You might write out a timeline of Civil War battles when you're studying for a big history test. Timelines are often used in history textbooks and biographies — they explain what happened during a certain period of time or to a particular person, starting with the earliest event and moving forward through time. Your own personal timeline, for example, might begin with your birth. Many timelines are represented graphically by an actual line that's dotted with points representing important events.

Example Sentences

A project timeline would see the section from Hawick to the holiday village built first around the time it opens in 2029, with the second section to Selkirk being constructed after that.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

“It looks really tight,” he said of the timeline.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

The short timeline for implementation raises the risk of trade disruptions, potentially weighing on exports, government revenue and the balance of payments, it says.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

San Diego police declined to add details to the timeline, saying investigators were still sorting it out.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

And if I’m wrong with the timeline, Tyler, find the other people on these tapes and let them know that you started peeping way before I caught you.

From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher

Related Words

• agenda
• timetable