# timely vs timer

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### timely
*adjective · IPA /ˈtaɪmli/ · frequency rank #8,996*
Done at the proper time or within the proper time limits; prompt.

### timer
*noun · IPA /ˈtaɪmɚ/ · frequency rank #11,625*
Agent noun of time: someone or something that times.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/timely-vs-timer