timely Meaning & Definition
What Does Timely Mean?
As an adjective, timely means Done at the proper time or within the proper time limits; prompt. It is also used to mean Happening or appearing at the proper time. As an adverb, it means In good time; early, quickly.
Timely at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective, adverb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈtaɪm.li// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | apropos, opportune and punctual |
| Comparative / superlative | timelier, timeliest |
Timely Definition (Adjective)
- Done at the proper time or within the proper time limits; prompt.
- Happening or appearing at the proper time.
- Keeping time or measure.
Timely as an Adverb
- In good time; early, quickly.
- At the right time; seasonably.
- In compliance with applicable time limits.
Synonyms of Timely
Timely synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Timely
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Timely in a Sentence
No example sentences are available for this entry.
Word Forms & Grammar
timely (comparative timelier, superlative timeliest)
timely (comparative more timely, superlative most timely)
Words That Rhyme With Timely
Origin of Timely
From Middle English timely, tymely, timliche, from Old English tīmlīc (adjective) and tīmlīċe (“in good time; timely; soon”, adverb), equivalent to time + -ly.[1][2] Cognate with Danish timelig, Swedish timlig, Icelandic tímalegur, tímanlegur.
How Do You Say Timely?
You say timely as //ˈtaɪm.li//. It has 1 syllable.
Timely: Your Questions Answered
Is timely an adjective or an adverb?
Timely is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as an adverb.
What is another word for timely?
You can replace timely with words such as apropos, opportune and punctual. See the full list of timely synonyms and antonyms.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of timely?
The comparative form is timelier and the superlative form is timeliest.