timeless
gb/tˈaɪmləs/ us/tˈaɪmləs/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
always attractive and in style
If something is timeless, people will like it for a long time.
Usage pattern:
[a timeless + noun] ; [something] is timeless
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with time-related words like timely (at the right time) or time-consuming (taking a lot of time).
Synonyms
classic (Often implies long-standing approval and a recognized standard.)
|
enduring (Emphasizes lasting popularity or value over time.)
|
evergreen (Often used for content that stays useful or popular.)
Antonyms
dated (Clearly from the past and no longer fashionable or suitable.)
|
trendy (Popular now but likely to go out of fashion soon.)
Collocations
timeless style
|timeless design
|timeless elegance
|timeless look
|timeless fashion
|timeless appeal
|timeless quality
|timeless beauty
|timeless song
|timeless story
Themes
fashion
|arts
|design
|everyday_life
Examples
- A plain white shirt is a timeless wardrobe staple.
- Her writing has a timeless quality that still feels fresh.
- The watch is simple, elegant, and timeless.
Learner examples
- This coat is timeless.
- The movie feels timeless.
adjective
C1
property
2
not tied to any era
If something is timeless, it does not look or feel like it belongs to one particular time in history.
Usage pattern:
[a timeless + setting/place/atmosphere]
Common mistake:
Timeless does not mean modern; it often means you cannot tell what time period it is from.
Synonyms
ageless (Often suggests a youthful or unchanging appearance as well.)
|
unplaceable (Emphasizes that you cannot identify the time period.)
Antonyms
period-specific (Strongly associated with a particular era.)
|
contemporary (Clearly belonging to the present time.)
Collocations
timeless setting
|timeless atmosphere
|timeless landscape
|timeless village
|timeless feel
|timeless quality
|timeless imagery
|timeless backdrop
|timeless scene
|timeless tone
Themes
arts
|history
|literature
|travel
Examples
- The film’s timeless setting makes it feel like a fairy tale.
- With its simple lines and neutral colors, the room looks timeless.
- The photos have a timeless feel—you can’t tell what decade they’re from.
Learner examples
- The story has a timeless setting.
adjective
formal
C1
property
3
eternal; existing outside time
If something is timeless, it lasts forever.
Usage pattern:
[timeless + truth/law/being]
Common mistake:
In this sense, timeless is not about fashion; it means eternal or beyond time.
Synonyms
eternal (The most direct synonym; strongly suggests no end.)
|
everlasting (Often used in religious or poetic contexts.)
Antonyms
temporary (Lasting only for a limited time.)
|
mortal (Able to die; not eternal.)
Collocations
timeless truth
|timeless wisdom
|timeless principles
|timeless laws
|timeless realm
|timeless being
|timeless existence
|timeless eternity
|timeless spirit
|timeless values
Themes
religion
|philosophy
|literature
Examples
- Some philosophers argue that moral truths are timeless.
- The poem speaks of a timeless love that survives death.
- In many religions, God is described as timeless.
Learner examples
- They believed the soul is timeless.
adjective
literary
C1
state
4
feeling as if time stops
If something feels timeless, it feels like time is not moving in the usual way.
Usage pattern:
[a timeless + moment/space/silence]
Common mistake:
This use describes a feeling or atmosphere, not something that is always fashionable.
Synonyms
suspended (Suggests something is temporarily stopped or held.)
|
frozen (Suggests time or movement seems stopped; more vivid and metaphorical.)
Antonyms
hurried (Suggests time feels fast and pressured.)
|
time-bound (Explicitly limited or controlled by time.)
Collocations
a timeless moment
|timeless silence
|timeless calm
|a timeless space
|timeless stillness
|a timeless pause
|timeless atmosphere
|timeless haze
|timeless trance
|timeless quiet
Themes
emotions
|arts
|mind
Examples
- For a few seconds after the news, the room felt timeless.
- They sat together in a timeless silence, listening to the rain.
- The music created a timeless space where everyone forgot the hour.
Learner examples
- It was a timeless moment.
Grammar
Dictionary form
timeless
IPA
GB/tˈaɪmləs/
US/tˈaɪmləs/
Syllables & stress
time - less (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (time)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: timeless
Expressions
a timeless classic
1/ə tˈaɪmləs klˈæsɪk/
fixed phrase
work loved across generations
A timeless classic is something people love even many years later.
Examples
- Many people consider the album a timeless classic.
- It’s a timeless classic that still works for new audiences.
- The novel became a timeless classic of children’s literature.
timeless appeal
1/tˈaɪmləs əpˈil/
fixed phrase
lasting popularity over time
Timeless appeal means people keep liking something for a long time.
Examples
- The brand trades on the timeless appeal of simple craftsmanship.
- Fairy tales have a timeless appeal for both children and adults.
- The recipe’s timeless appeal is its mix of comfort and simplicity.
timeless beauty
1/tˈaɪmləs bjˈuti/
fixed phrase
beauty that never fades
Timeless beauty means beauty that stays beautiful over time.
Examples
- The actor was remembered for her timeless beauty.
- The building’s timeless beauty comes from its simple proportions.
- The photographer tried to capture a sense of timeless beauty in the portrait.