untimely

1 of 2

adverb

un·​time·​ly ˌən-ˈtīm-lē 

1

: at an inopportune time : unseasonably

2

: before the due, natural, or proper time : prematurely

went untimely to the grave

untimely

2 of 2

adjective

1

: inopportune, unseasonable

an untimely joke

untimely frost

2

: occurring or done before the due, natural, or proper time : too early : premature

an untimely death

untimeliness noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• early
• inopportune
• precocious
• premature
• unseasonable

Examples of untimely in a Sentence

Adjective

the untimely arrival of our guests caught us by surprise

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Purdy, known to her family as Bez Purdy, was loved by the Broomfield community and had been a church warden for 20 years before her untimely death, per the statement. —Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 27 May 2025

Random House, July 8 Image These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean Alice Storm returns, reluctantly, to her estranged family’s Rhode Island estate after the untimely death of her billionaire father, Franklin. —Laura Thompson, New York Times, 22 May 2025

So much of the show’s original premise was built around the mystery of Ashton’s untimely death. —Max Gao, Variety, 12 May 2025

Before its untimely death, the 602 was a favorite of John Steinbeck and Looney Tunes creator Chuck Jones. —Air Mail, 10 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for untimely

• sublimely
• timely

Kids Definition

untimely

adjective

un·​time·​ly

ˌən-ˈtīm-lē,

ˈən-

1

: occurring or done before the expected, natural, or proper time : premature

untimely death

2

: coming at the wrong time

an untimely joke

Legal Definition

untimely

adjective

un·​time·​ly

ˌən-ˈtīm-lē

: not timely

especially : not made or filed within a period of time specified by procedural rule

an untimely petition

untimeliness noun

untimely adverb