timely
[tahym-lee]
- occurring at a suitable time; seasonable; opportune; well-timed: a timely warning.
- Archaic. early.
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- seasonably; opportunely.
- Archaic. early or soon.
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Origin of timely
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com1. See opportune.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
up-to-date, prompt, convenient, appropriate, up-to-the-minute, proper, well-timed, auspicious, favorable, fit, fitting, judicious, likely, meet, modern, now, opportune, pat, promising, propitiousExamples from the Web for timely
Contemporary Examples
The Atlantic: “In Bruce Allen Murphy, Scalia has met a timely and unintimidated biographer ready to probe.”
The most critical person for a timely beginning of trial that day was a cat catcher on contract to the Amereicans.
Iraqi Insurgents Circulate the Lie That They Killed the Judge in Saddam’s TrialMichael Newton
June 28, 2014
The answer is basically no one, at least not in “a deliberate or timely way.”
But one of the things I appreciate about the film is its statement and about how timely it is with climate change.
‘Noah’ is a Global Warming Epic About the Battle Between Religion and Science, Says CinematographerMarlow Stern
March 27, 2014
A timely advance by black troops saved the day for the Union forces.
Historical Examples
His conversation for a moment or two was also coherent and timely.
In the ValleyHarold Frederic
The chateau is on fire; valuable objects may be saved from the flames by timely aid!
A Tale of Two CitiesCharles Dickens
The book was timely and told efficiently on the reform in this country.
Cleveland Past and PresentMaurice Joblin
The fatal effects of mineral poisons are too often experienced, and for want of timely assistance but seldom counteracted.
What might have happened but for the timely interruption it would be impossible to say.
The Night RidersRidgwell Cullum
timely
- at the right or an opportune or appropriate time
- an archaic word for early
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for timely
adv.
late Old English, from time (n.). As an adjective meaning "occurring at a suitable time" it is attested from c.1200.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper