timely
/ˈtaɪm.li/ adjective, adverb
Forms timelier timeliest
- adjective Done at the proper time or within the proper time limits; prompt.
- adjective Happening or appearing at the proper time.
- adjective (obsolete) Keeping time or measure.
- adverb (archaic) In good time; early, quickly.
- adverb (obsolete) At the right time; seasonably.
- adverb (law) In compliance with applicable time limits.
Synonyms
on time well-timed in time prompt punctual seasonable opportune tempestive tidy timeful timeous heaven-sent timesome well timed seasonably apropos
Antonyms
ill-timed late backward behindhand belated lated overdue tardy inopportune unseasonable intempestive mistimed
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.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “timely”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details