English Explanatory Dictionary

timely

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Done at the proper time or within the proper time limits; prompt.
  2. Happening or appearing at the proper time.
  3. Keeping time or measure.
adv
  1. In good time; early, quickly.
  2. At the right time; seasonably.
  3. In compliance with applicable time limits.

Pronunciation

tīmʹlē /ˈtaɪmli/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-timely.wav

Word forms

timely timelier timeliest more timely most timely

Etymology

From Middle English timely, tymely, timliche, from Old English *tīmlīc (adjective) and tīmlīċe (“in good time; timely; soon”, adverb), equivalent to time + -ly. Cognate with Danish timelig, Swedish timlig, Icelandic tímalegur, tímanlegur.

Synonyms

well-timed tempestive opportune seasonable tidy timeful timely timeous heaven-sent timesome on time in time prompt punctual

Antonyms

untimely ill-timed late backward behindhand belated lated overdue tardy inopportune unseasonable intempestive mistimed timeless untime untimeous

Related words

timeliness timeously seasonably tidely

Derived words

mistimely overtimely timelily timeliness timely-parted untimely

Translations

Afrikaans: tydig Bulgarian: своевременен Bulgarian: навременен Catalan: oportú Chinese Mandarin: 及時 /及时 Chinese Mandarin: 適時 /适时 Dutch: tijdig Dutch: actueel Estonian: õigeaegne Finnish: oikea-aikainen German: zeitgerecht German: fristgerecht German: zur rechten Zeit German: rechtzeitig German: zeitnah German: zügig German: rasch German: zeitgemäß German: frühzeitig Ancient Greek: καίριος Hungarian: időszerű Irish: ócáideach Irish: tráthúil Old Irish: tráthach Old Irish: tráthaigthech Old Irish: tráthamail Italian: tempestivo Italian: opportuno Japanese: 適時の Japanese: 渡りに舟の Latin: temporāneus Macedonian: своевре́мен Macedonian: на́времен Manx: traaoil Portuguese: oportuno Russian: своевре́менный Swedish: vältajmad Thai: ถูกเวลา Thai: ตรงเวลา French: opportun French: au bon moment Serbo-Croatian: пра̏вовремен Serbo-Croatian: prȁvovremen Vietnamese: hợp thời
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