timely
happening at a useful moment
Happening at the right time, early enough to help or to stop something bad.
a timely [noun]; [something] is timely
- Your email was a timely reminder about the deadline.
- The doctor’s timely intervention probably saved his life.
- The report offers a timely analysis of the recent changes in the market.
- Heavy rain ended in timely fashion just before the outdoor ceremony began.
- Her timely warning allowed the company to fix the error before it went public.
- Thank you for your timely help.
- The storm alert was very timely and people stayed at home.
- His timely call stopped me from making a big mistake.
- We received a timely warning about the road closure.
- The book gives a timely message about climate change.
done within a deadline
Done in the time that is needed or required, not too late for a rule or plan.
timely [noun]; in a timely [manner/fashion]
- The company offers a discount for timely payment of all invoices.
- We appreciate your timely response to our inquiry.
- Timely filing of the application is essential for your claim to be accepted.
- The project failed partly because key approvals were not given in a timely manner.
- Our contract requires timely delivery of all goods to the warehouse.
- Please send a timely reply to the customer.
- Timely payment will help you avoid extra fees.
- The school asks for the timely return of all forms.
- They did not make a timely decision, so the offer ended.
- For safety, we need the timely repair of this machine.
occurring at a natural time
Happening at a normal or right time in life or in a process, not too early or too late.
a timely [event]; [someone]'s timely [death/retirement/end]
- The novel reflects on the king’s timely death and the peaceful transfer of power.
- After a long and successful career, she made a timely retirement from public life.
- Many saw the organization’s timely end as a sign that its mission had been completed.
- The committee agreed that a timely conclusion to the talks was better than drawing them out for years.
- His timely passing, at the age of 97, was described as calm and dignified.
- After many years of work, he took timely retirement.
- Some people felt that the company’s timely end was a good thing.
- The writer speaks about his grandfather’s timely death at an old age.
- The talks reached a timely conclusion after months of meetings.
- The film shows the hero’s timely passing at the end of his life.
- Base: timely
- Comparative: timelier
- Superlative: timeliest
in a timely fashion
1do something in good time
To do something fast enough or early enough so that it is not late and fits the plan or rules.
- We are working to process all applications in a timely fashion.
- Repairs must be completed in a timely fashion to avoid further damage.
in a timely manner
1do something within required time
To do something fast enough or early enough so that it meets a rule, plan, or need.
- All complaints must be handled in a timely manner.
- The company failed to respond in a timely manner to the safety concerns.
timely reminder
1reminder at a helpful time
A message or note that comes at the right time and helps you not to forget something.
- Her text was a timely reminder that the meeting started at nine.
- The push notification served as a timely reminder to take my medicine.
timely response
1answer given quickly enough
An answer that is given soon enough to be useful or to meet a rule or deadline.
- Customer satisfaction depends on a timely response to emails and calls.
- We thank you for your timely response to our offer.
timely intervention
1early action that changes outcome
An action that happens early enough in a situation to stop something bad or make the result better.
- His timely intervention prevented a serious accident.
- Only the nurse’s timely intervention prevented the patient from falling.
- Thanks to her timely intervention, the company avoided bankruptcy.
- Timely intervention by the regulator stopped the fraud from spreading further.