betimes

/bɪˈtaɪmz/

//bɪˈtaɪmz// adv

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"betimes" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“betimes” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adverb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - In good season or time; early, especially in the morning; seasonably.

Key facts for betimes
PropertyValue
Headwordbetimes
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdverb
IPA/bɪˈtaɪmz/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “betimes” sits in English frequency

betimes falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

betimes is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadverb, transcribed /bɪˈtaɪmz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for betimes in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English betymes, from bi (“by”) + time + adverbial -s. By surface analysis, betime + -s (adverbial suffix). Compare also betides. The correct English form is betimes, spelled B-E-T-I-M-E-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    In good season or time; early, especially in the morning; seasonably.
  2. 2
    In a short time, soon; quickly, forthwith.

Etymology

From Middle English betymes, from bi (“by”) + time + adverbial -s. By surface analysis, betime + -s (adverbial suffix). Compare also betides.

This word in other languages

beizeiten(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "betimes"?
"betimes" is spelled B-E-T-I-M-E-S. The IPA pronunciation is /bɪˈtaɪmz/.
What does "betimes" mean?
As an adverb, "betimes" means: In good season or time; early, especially in the morning; seasonably.
How do you pronounce "betimes"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "betimes" is /bɪˈtaɪmz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "betimes"?
From Middle English betymes, from bi (“by”) + time + adverbial -s. By surface analysis, betime + -s (adverbial suffix). Compare also betides. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “betimes”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is B-E-T-I-M-E-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /bɪˈtaɪmz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list