Definitions
01at the right time
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. happening at a time that is useful or helpful.
adj. occurring at an opportune or appropriate time to achieve a desired effect.
“The rain was very timely because the farmers' crops were starting to die.”
“The government's intervention provided a timely boost to the economy just as consumer confidence began to falter.”
Synonyms
02done quickly or on time
C1 · Advanced Law Formal
adj. done without delay or within the allowed time limit.
adj. done or occurring sufficiently early or at the proper time; often used in professional contexts regarding deadlines.
“The lawyer made sure to give a timely response to the court's request.”
“Failure to provide a timely notice of appeal may result in the permanent forfeiture of the client's right to challenge the verdict.”
Usage
Often used in legal or administrative writing to describe filings or responses.
Antonyms
03early or soon
C2 · Proficiency Archaic
adv. happening early or in good time.
adv. occurring early, quickly, or in a seasonable manner.
“The travelers arrived timely at the station before the storm began.”
“He rose timely to begin his journey, hoping to reach the city gates before the midday heat became unbearable.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “timely” in context.
Verb
01. prove timely
“The decision to upgrade our cybersecurity proved timely when a major data breach hit the industry.”
verb + adj
02. provide a timely boost
“The new investment provided a timely boost to the local economy during the recession.”
verb + adj + noun
Noun
03. timely arrival of the supplies
“The timely arrival of the supplies prevented the construction project from grinding to a halt.”
adj + noun + of + noun
04. timely fashion
“Please ensure that all project reports are submitted in a timely fashion to avoid delays.”
adj + noun
05. timely intervention
“The patient's life was saved thanks to a timely intervention by the emergency medical team.”
adj + noun
06. timely reminder of the risks
“The recent market crash serves as a timely reminder of the risks involved in speculative trading.”
adj + noun + of + noun
Adverb
07. highly timely
“Her comments on renewable energy were highly timely as the government debated the new climate bill.”
adv + adj
08. particularly timely
“The publication of the research was particularly timely, given the current global health crisis.”
adv + adj
09. timely manner
Real-World Examples
“At the very moment when rapid change makes timely knowledge more valuable, systems for collecting, identifying, publishing and using biodiversity data often struggle to keep pace.” “Despite progress, gaps remain in access to timely, quality antenatal, delivery and emergency obstetric care.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0