well-timed

/ˌwel ˈtaɪmd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌwel ˈtaɪmd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwel-ˈtīmd How to pronounce well-timed (audio)/ (ame, mw)

well-timed — adjective

1. planned or said so that it occurs at exactly the right moment, giving the best p

1.形容詞B2
釋義

planned or said so that it occurs at exactly the right moment, giving the best possible result

例句

Theo's well-timed question made the lecturer pause and rethink her argument.

attributive before a noun (question)

A well-timed apology from Elena stopped the argument before it got worse.

同義詞
  • timely

    very similar, but 'timely' focuses on 'not too late', while 'well-timed' emphasises the perfect match with the moment

  • opportune

    more formal and less common, often used for events rather than deliberate actions

  • convenient

    broader in meaning; focuses on personal ease or suitability rather than a precise moment

反義詞
  • ill-timed

    the direct opposite — happening at the worst possible moment

  • untimely

    suggests an event that happens too early or too late, often with negative consequences

文法句型

well-timed + noun

be + well-timed

用法筆記

Most often placed before a noun (a well-timed comment), but it can also follow the verb be (her apology was well-timed). The subject is usually an action, event, or remark rather than a person.

常見錯誤

❌His remark was well timed and effective.
✅His remark was well-timed and effective.
💡As a compound adjective, 'well-timed' needs a hyphen in both attributive and predicative positions.
❌I tried to be well-timed in my reply.
✅I tried to make a well-timed reply.
💡The adjective describes the action, not the person.