untimely
Americanadjective
-
not timely; not occurring at a suitable time or season; ill-timed or inopportune.
An untimely downpour stopped the game.
- Synonyms:
- unsuitable, inconvenient, inappropriate, unseasonable
-
happening too soon or too early; premature.
his untimely demise.
adverb
adjective
-
occurring before the expected, normal, or proper time
an untimely death
-
inappropriate to the occasion, time, or season
his joking at the funeral was most untimely
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of untimely
First recorded in 1150–1200, untimely is from the Middle English word untimliche. See un- 1, timely
Explanation
Something untimely has occurred prematurely, and it's usually not good news. If you hear about someone's untimely death, it must mean it was an unexpected death. When something is timely, it happens at the right time. When something is untimely, it means the opposite: it happened at an unfortunate or unexpected time. Usually, this means it happened much too early. The most common use of this term is probably in discussing someone’s untimely death, meaning they died young. Other disasters that happen to young people might be described as untimely as well.
Vocabulary lists containing untimely
Romeo and Juliet
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"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)
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The Tragedy of Macbeth
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For the 20th anniversary of Irwin’s untimely death, Ivana Rihter reflects on the conservationist’s legacy.
From Slate ● Oct. 5, 2026
Through her grief, Fiona Donohoe's witness statement illuminated her love for her son and her unstinting desire to understand what led to his untimely death.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
In her version, Bernhard alters the lyrics to pay tribute to Sylvester, whose untimely death left an immense legacy.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
"Love Story" drummed up controversy -- and viewers -- with its revisiting of the A-list couple's courtship and untimely deaths, but it only earned six nominations.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
What made him seek this quarter of the house at an untimely season, when he should have been asleep in bed?
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
