timeline

noun

time·​line ˈtīm-ˌlīn 

variants or time line

plural timelines or time lines

1

a

: an arrangement or occurrence (as of past events) in time : chronology

After interviewing the suspect, the wardens pieced together a timeline of events and gathered enough evidence to file appropriate charges …

—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

b

: a visual representation of events associated with a particular period of time arranged chronologically along a line or in a linear format

The book also includes a timeline, showing which dinosaurs lived when and where, and how the Earth has changed over millions of years.

—The Children's Bookwatch

In her "Foundations of Western Civilization" course … Prof. Julia Gossard has her students create a timeline of the history of food …

—Thomas Keith

c

: a schedule of planned events, actions, etc. : timetable sense 2

With just under a year left until your nuptials, here's what's next on your wedding planning timeline.

—Sarah Hanlon

Giving the client a say in every step of the project could create a delay and throw off the timeline …

—Katie Bates

2

: a period of time especially with respect to some project or event : time frame

And what's the timeline for implementing these changes?

—Mark Sovel

The stakes are high, and the timeline is tight.

—Rio Longacre

… school districts can't open before Labor Day and must end by June 15. But to meet that compressed timeline … , districts have had to consider trade-offs.

—Donna St. George

3

: a stream of social media posts : feed sense 3e

Algorithmic timelines quietly replaced chronological ones, until our social-media feeds no longer took direction from us, but rather directed us where they wanted us to go.

—Yair Rosenberg

And if there's something funny … I make sure to Retweet so others can cleanse their timeline and enjoy.

—Andy Richardson

4

: a branch of a theoretical multiverse that exists in parallel with other branches

… the notion that we're surrounded by a multitude of parallel selves, one of which might be living in a better timeline than the one we're stuck in.

—S. I. Rosenbaum

—used especially in science fiction

… Dune: Awakening is set in an "alternate" timeline from the original Frank Herbert novels, where something has happened to change the course of history.

—Wes Fenlon

Examples of timeline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Drilling a new shale well is not a huge cost in and of itself, but increasing production above current record levels may necessitate spending on transportation or storage systems – programs that require more up front investment with a longer payback timeline. —Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025

This means being able to quickly reposition satellites in orbit, or being able to launch spacecraft on accelerated timelines. —Brett Tingley, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Related Articles Maryland administrators anticipate Kevin Willard taking Villanova job Kevin Willard timeline: Maryland coach leaves for Villanova People around the program, from administrators to top boosters, thought Willard was happy heading into the NCAA Tournament. —Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025

The proposal also reportedly included a timeline for all of the hostages to be released and for Israel to fully withdraw its military from Gaza. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025

With the new shift in policy, the update from the SSA announced a delay in the timeline of the new identity proofing requirements, stating the changes will apply to all beneficiaries beginning April 14. —Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Mar. 2025

Even an extra $200-500 per month can significantly accelerate your debt payoff timeline. —Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025

The dispatcher questioned the timeline of events and asked if the child had been sick lately, saying police and medics were on the way. —Lauren J. Young, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025

Your character, Jeremías, evolves tremendously across different timelines. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1