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
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
Examples of untimely in a Sentence
Adjective
the untimely arrival of our guests caught us by surprise
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Smash Mouth is ready to pay tribute to Steve Harwell seven months after his untimely death at age 56.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Before his untimely death, Mr. Lin was something of a celebrity in the world of young Chinese entrepreneurs.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Tammy Daybell died in her sleep in November 2019, the untimely death first chalked up to natural causes but later determined to be from asphyxiation, according to an autopsy.
—CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
While TikTok may face an untimely end, other platforms are getting resurrected.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
In the film, Sonal, a teacher, grapples with a hereditary disease, mirroring her mother’s untimely demise.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024
Perhaps even Jobs pondered the merits of an Apple car before his untimely passing.
—Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
The untimely deaths of her parents at ages 41 and 42 from preventable illnesses inspired Kane to get serious about her holistic health and encourage other Black women to do the same.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
Adjective
In a doleful irony, his digital rerecording of the piece, taken at a more stately tempo and with other changes, would be the last Gould album released by Columbia before his untimely death at age 50 in 1982.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Smash Mouth is ready to pay tribute to Steve Harwell seven months after his untimely death at age 56.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Before his untimely death, Mr. Lin was something of a celebrity in the world of young Chinese entrepreneurs.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Tammy Daybell died in her sleep in November 2019, the untimely death first chalked up to natural causes but later determined to be from asphyxiation, according to an autopsy.
—CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
While TikTok may face an untimely end, other platforms are getting resurrected.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
In the film, Sonal, a teacher, grapples with a hereditary disease, mirroring her mother’s untimely demise.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024
Perhaps even Jobs pondered the merits of an Apple car before his untimely passing.
—Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
The untimely deaths of her parents at ages 41 and 42 from preventable illnesses inspired Kane to get serious about her holistic health and encourage other Black women to do the same.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'untimely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near untimely
Cite this Entry
“Untimely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untimely. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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
More from Merriam-Webster on untimely
Nglish: Translation of untimely for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of untimely for Arabic Speakers
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