ENGLISH
REFERENCE

timeless

adj.
US //ˈtaɪmɫəs// UK //tˈaɪmləs// time·less
  1. 1 classic and ageless (adj.)
    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.

    Example

    A plain white shirt is a timeless piece of clothing that never goes out of style.

    Example

    The architect's design achieved a timeless elegance by avoiding the fleeting trends of the decade in favour of clean, classical proportions.
  2. 2 eternal (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary Formal Religion

    lasting forever; having no beginning or end.

    existing outside of time; eternal or infinite in duration.

    Example

    The poet wrote about the timeless beauty of the stars in the night sky.

    Example

    The philosopher argued that certain mathematical truths exist in a timeless realm, independent of human discovery or physical reality.
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  1. 3 untimely (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    happening at the wrong time or too early.

    occurring at an improper or ill-chosen time; unseasonable.

    Example

    The king's timeless death left the country without a clear leader.

    Example

    The chronicler lamented the timeless arrival of the winter storms, which destroyed the crops before the harvest could be secured.

    Usage

    Rarely found in modern prose except when imitating historical styles.

    Teacher's tip

    Modern speakers almost exclusively use 'untimely' for this meaning; 'timeless' in this sense will likely be misunderstood.
Origin

From time + -less.

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