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

The consumer price index data is being published to allow the Social Security Administration to meet its statutory deadlines "to ensure the accurate and timely payment of benefits," the BLS said Friday in a statement.

Read more on Barron's

"The school put in place timely and appropriate measures to support Georgia and was not in any way causative of her death," the coroner told the hearing in Ipswich.

Read more on BBC

The BLS said Friday that the later October release of the CPI report allows the Social Security Administration to meet statutory deadlines necessary to ensure the accurate and timely payment of benefits.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Residents continue to protest, accusing officials of having failed to provide timely alerts.

Read more on Barron's

That five-to-six minute sketch leading up the show’s theme music is where “SNL” presents its most timely political bits, making it one of the last widely watched fixtures of late-night programming, including on YouTube.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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