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definitions

untimely

[ uhn-tahym-lee ]
/ ʌnˈtaɪm li /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR untimely ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, un·time·li·er, un·time·li·est.

not timely; not occurring at a suitable time or season; ill-timed or inopportune: An untimely downpour stopped the game.
happening too soon or too early; premature: his untimely demise.

adverb

prematurely.
unseasonably.

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RELATED WORDS

undue, improper, premature, unfortunate, ill-timed, abortive, awkward, disagreeable, early, inauspicious, inconvenient, inexpedient, inopportune, intrusive, malapropos, out-of-date, previous, soon, unfavorable, unfit

Nearby words

unthrifty, unthrone, untidy, untie, until, untimely, untimeous, untinged, untiring, untitled, unto

Origin of untimely

First recorded in 1150–1200, untimely is from the Middle English word untimliche. See un-1, timely
Related formsun·time·li·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for untimely

British Dictionary definitions for untimely

untimely

/ (ʌnˈtaɪmlɪ) /

adjective

occurring before the expected, normal, or proper timean untimely death
inappropriate to the occasion, time, or seasonhis joking at the funeral was most untimely

adverb

prematurely or inopportunely
Derived Formsuntimeliness, noun
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 untimely

untimely

adj.

1530s, "coming before the proper or usual time," from un- (1) "not" + timely. Cf. Middle Danish utimelig, of weather, etc.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with untimely

untimely

see come to an (untimely) end.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.