Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

untimely

/ʌnˈtaɪmli/ adjective

In Latin: intempestus First recorded: early 13th century Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about untimely at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Badly timed.
an ill-timed intervention
Uncommonly early or before the expected time.
illness led to his premature death

adverb

Too soon; in a premature manner.
I spoke prematurely

Origin

From Middle English untymely (also earlier untimliche), equivalent to un- + timely. First attested in the early 13th century. Compare Middle Danish utimelig, Old English untídlic (“unseasonable”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word