timeless
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
not affected by changes in fashion or time; always beautiful or useful.
unaffected by the passage of time or changes in fashion; possessing a classic quality that remains relevant across generations.
Simple“A plain white shirt is a timeless piece of clothing that never goes out of style.”
In context“The architect's design achieved a timeless elegance by avoiding the fleeting trends of the decade in favour of clean, classical proportions.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
lasting forever; having no beginning or end.
existing outside of time; eternal or infinite in duration.
Simple“The poet wrote about the timeless beauty of the stars in the night sky.”
In context“The philosopher argued that certain mathematical truths exist in a timeless realm, independent of human discovery or physical reality.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
happening at the wrong time or too early.
occurring at an improper or ill-chosen time; unseasonable.
Simple“The king's timeless death left the country without a clear leader.”
In context“The chronicler lamented the timeless arrival of the winter storms, which destroyed the crops before the harvest could be secured.”
UsageRarely found in modern prose except when imitating historical styles.
Teacher's tipModern speakers almost exclusively use 'untimely' for this meaning; 'timeless' in this sense will likely be misunderstood.
“The singer, songwriter and actress is known for timeless hits including Jolene and I Will Always Love You.”
From time + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.