Meaning & use
timely matter
Last updated
Meaning
phrasecountable
A subject or issue that is important or relevant at the present moment.
Grammar: Used as a countable noun phrase; it can take 'a' and be made plural ('timely matters').
Patterns
- a timely matter
- discuss a timely matter
- raise a timely matter
The committee met to discuss a timely matter: the new budget proposal.
Climate change is a timely matter for voters this year.
She raised a timely matter about safety in the workplace.
Word forms
| plural | timely matters |
|---|
Common combinations
- a timely matter for discussion
- The board considered it a timely matter for discussion.
- address a timely matter
- The mayor addressed a timely matter in her speech.
- a timely matter of concern
- Housing costs are a timely matter of concern for many families.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pressing issue
- Stronger: it suggests something urgent that needs immediate attention, while 'timely matter' just means relevant now.
- current issue
- Neutral: it simply means an issue happening now, without the sense of being especially suitable to discuss at this moment.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: timely matter or matter of time?
timely matter vs matter of time
This means something will certainly happen eventually; 'timely matter' means an issue that is relevant now. They look similar but mean very different things.
Practice
The senator spoke about a ___ matter: the need for better roads.
Choose one answer.
'Timely' means relevant at the present moment, which fits the senator's current concern. 'Timeless' means never out of date, 'timed' means measured or scheduled, and 'time' alone does not fit before 'matter'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “timely matter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.