timely
/ˈtaɪmli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtaɪmli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtīm-lē/ (ame, mw)
timely — adjective
- timelypositive
- timeliercomparative
- timeliestsuperlative
1. done or happening when the moment is most suitable, so that the result is as goo
done or happening when the moment is most suitable, so that the result is as good as possible for the situation
The government's timely decision to lower taxes helped many small businesses survive the recession.
timely + noun: decision, warning, intervention
As the storm approached the coast, Tamar received a timely warning from the weather office.
A timely donation from a charity arrived just as the shelter ran out of food.
Without the doctor's timely intervention, the patient would have lost his eyesight.
- opportune
more formal and literary; implies a favourable coincidence of events
- well-timed
less formal; focuses on the skill of choosing the right moment
- convenient
broader; emphasises ease or suitability rather than optimal timing
- untimely
happening at a bad or unsuitable moment
用法筆記
Commonly used attributively before nouns such as decision, warning, reminder, intervention, and arrival. Can also appear predicatively ('The warning was timely').
常見錯誤
2. sent, paid, or completed within the time that a rule, contract, or law allows, s
sent, paid, or completed within the time that a rule, contract, or law allows, so that no penalty is charged
The insurance company rejected the claim because it was not filed in a timely manner.
collocation: in a timely manner
Lara reminded the accounting team that timely payments are essential for maintaining good credit.
Power was cut off because the bill was not paid in a timely fashion.
Minho stressed the importance of timely reporting for all workplace accidents.
用法筆記
Most often appears in the fixed expressions 'in a timely manner' and 'in a timely fashion'. This sense is more formal and legal-administrative than sense 1.
常見錯誤
timely — adverb
1. at a moment that produces the most useful or helpful result for a situation
at a moment that produces the most useful or helpful result for a situation
The ambulance arrived timely, reaching the injured cyclist just before his breathing stopped.
adverb modifying verb: arrived timely, acted timely
Henrik submitted his application timely, and the committee reviewed it the same day.
The weather report came timely, allowing farmers to protect their crops from the frost.
Salma acted timely by calling the fire department when she smelled gas in the kitchen.
- opportunely
very formal; suggests the moment was especially favourable
- conveniently
broader; suggests ease rather than optimal timing
- untimely
happening at a bad or unsuitable moment; can also be an adverb
用法筆記
Less common than the adjective form. Many speakers and style guides prefer 'in a timely manner' or 'at the right time' instead of using 'timely' directly as an adverb. More common in American English than British English.
常見錯誤
2. before the usual, expected, or required time
before the usual, expected, or required time
The cherry blossoms bloomed timely this year — a full two weeks ahead of schedule.
Élise completed her degree timely, graduating a full semester before her classmates.
The train arrived timely at the station, well before the scheduled departure time.
Sade's promotion came timely — the company announced it just six months after she joined.
- early
more common and natural; no special register
- ahead of time
phrase; more natural in everyday speech
- late
after the expected time
用法筆記
This sense emphasises earliness relative to a fixed expectation or schedule, which distinguishes it from sense 1 (suitability of the moment). This usage is rare and mostly confined to American administrative and journalistic writing.