timely
/ˈtaɪmli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtaɪmli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtīm-lē/ (ame, mw)
timely — 形容詞
- timelypositive
- timeliercomparative
- timeliestsuperlative
1. done or happening when the moment is most suitable, so that the result is as goo
及時的
在最適合的時機發生的
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.
政府及時決定減稅，幫助許多小型企業在經濟衰退中存活下來。
timely + noun: decision, warning, intervention
As the storm approached the coast, Tamar received a timely warning from the weather office.
就在暴風雨接近海岸時，Tamar 收到了氣象局的及時警告。
A timely donation from a charity arrived just as the shelter ran out of food.
當地慈善機構的及時捐款送達時，收容所的糧食正好全部用完。
Without the doctor's timely intervention, the patient would have lost his eyesight.
如果沒有醫生及時介入，那位病人可能會失去視力。
- 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
按時的
在規定期限內完成的
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.
保險公司拒絕了理賠申請，因為該申請未按時提交。
collocation: in a timely manner
Lara reminded the accounting team that timely payments are essential for maintaining good credit.
Lara 提醒會計團隊，按時付款對維持良好信用至關重要。
Power was cut off because the bill was not paid in a timely fashion.
電力被切斷，因為帳單沒有按時繳納。
Minho stressed the importance of timely reporting for all workplace accidents.
Minho 強調了所有職場事故都必須按時通報的重要性。
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 — 副詞
1. at a moment that produces the most useful or helpful result for a situation
及時地
在最適當的時機
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.
救護車及時抵達，在受傷騎士幾乎停止呼吸前趕到了現場。
adverb modifying verb: arrived timely, acted timely
Henrik submitted his application timely, and the committee reviewed it the same day.
Henrik 及時提交了申請，委員會當天就進行了審查。
The weather report came timely, allowing farmers to protect their crops from the frost.
天氣預報及時傳來，讓農民有時間保護作物免受霜害。
Salma acted timely by calling the fire department when she smelled gas in the kitchen.
Salma 在廚房聞到瓦斯味時及時採取行動，撥打了消防隊的電話。
- 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
提早地
比預期時間早
before the usual, expected, or required time
The cherry blossoms bloomed timely this year — a full two weeks ahead of schedule.
今年的櫻花提早綻放，比往年早了整整兩週。
Élise completed her degree timely, graduating a full semester before her classmates.
Élise 提早完成了學業，比同班同學早了一整個學期畢業。
The train arrived timely at the station, well before the scheduled departure time.
火車提早抵達車站，比預定發車時間還早很多。
Sade's promotion came timely — the company announced it just six months after she joined.
Sade 的升遷來得很早——她在入職僅僅六個月後公司就宣布了這項消息。
- 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.