time frame

noun

variants or less commonly timeframe

ˈtīm-ˌfrām 

: a period of time especially with respect to some action or project

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time frame or timeframe?

Should time frame be written as one word or two? At present, it is most commonly styled as two words with no hyphen in between.

Compounds, or “words consisting of components that are words,” come in three varieties: open (two words with a space between them, such as lima bean), hyphenated (two words with a hyphen between them, such as runner-up), and closed (one word, such as rowboat). In some cases, competing compound stylings appear in different publications. This is generally acceptable as long as the spelling remains consistent throughout a book or periodical.

Compounds have a tendency to move from open to closed as time goes by, and our evidence suggests that time frame is headed in this direction. At this point, however, the open compound is far more prevalent.

Examples of time frame in a Sentence

They were not able to finish the project within the established time frame.

Recent Examples on the Web

The warrant specifies the time frame and the type of data to be collected, such as GPS data or interactions with Wi-Fi networks. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024

Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Detroit Auto Show, which will be returning to its traditional January time frame next year. —Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 15 Oct. 2024

That time frame was unexpectedly moved up in early October. —Jackie Wattles, CNN, 12 Oct. 2024

While the time frame is never specified, the production design, costumes and props all suggest the period in which the 1972 novel was written. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above