timeline

timeline — 名詞

1. a line, diagram, or list that shows events in the order they happened, from the

1.名詞B1
釋義

時間軸

按發生順序排列事件的圖表或文字

a line, diagram, or list that shows events in the order they happened, from the earliest to the most recent — often used in history, biographies, or project plans to make the sequence of events easy to understand at a glance.

例句

The museum displayed a <hw>timeline</hw> of the Ming dynasty with key battles and inventions marked.

這間博物館展示了一份明朝的時間軸，清楚標示了重要的戰役與發明。

collocation: a timeline of [topic]

Salma drew a <hw>timeline</hw> of her life from birth through college for a school project.

Salma 為了學校作業，畫了一條從出生到大學的簡單時間軸。

subject: person creating a timeline

同義詞
  • chronology

    more formal, often refers to the sequence itself rather than a visual representation

  • time chart

    less common; emphasises the visual/graphic format

文法句型

a timeline of [something]

用法筆記

Often followed by of + a topic or period. A timeline can be a drawn line, an infographic, or simply a chronological list. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 focuses on past events already completed; sense 2 looks forward to future deadlines.

常見錯誤

❌The timeline shows what will happen next month.' (if referring to past events)
✅The timeline shows what happened during the war.
💡sense 1 is about events that have already occurred.
❌I put the meetings on a timeline' (vague)
✅I put the meetings on a timeline for the quarterly review.
💡a timeline needs a subject or period to be useful.

2. a plan that lists the expected dates and time needed for each stage of a project

2.名詞B1
釋義

時程表

列出各階段預定日期與時長的計劃

a plan that lists the expected dates and time needed for each stage of a project, product launch, or process — so that everyone involved knows when things must be finished.

例句

The construction team agreed on an eighteen-month <hw>timeline</hw> for the new apartment building.

建築團隊為這棟新公寓大樓敲定了十八個月的時程表。

collocation: timeline for [project]

Benjamin asked his manager for a realistic <hw>timeline</hw> before promising the client a delivery date.

Benjamin 在向客戶承諾交貨日期前，先向經理確認了實際的時程表。

同義詞
  • schedule

    more general; a timeline is a type of schedule that emphasises sequence and deadlines

  • timetable

    more commonly used for transport or class schedules; timeline is broader for projects

  • deadline

    a single end date, not the whole plan

文法句型

a timeline for [project/task]

set a timeline

within a timeline

用法筆記

Frequently used with set, agree on, meet, or stick to. The timeline for sense 2 looks forward (future deadlines) whereas sense 1 looks backward (past events). Subject is often a team, company, or project manager.

常見錯誤

❌The schedule is a timeline of what already happened.
✅The schedule is a timeline for what still needs to be done.
💡sense 2 is about future planning, not past reporting.

3. the connected series of important events, changes, or stages that a person, orga

3.名詞B2
釋義

歷程

影響某人或某組織的重大事件序列

the connected series of important events, changes, or stages that a person, organization, or place has experienced over a period of time — like a biography condensed into major milestones.

例句

The documentary traces the <hw>timeline</hw> of the artist's career from her first gallery show to international fame.

這部紀錄片追溯了這位藝術家從首次個展到享譽國際的職業歷程。

collocation: trace the timeline of [someone]

Joon's book follows a clear <hw>timeline</hw> of his childhood in Seoul and his move to Vancouver.

Joon 的書清楚記錄了他從首爾的童年到移居溫哥華的歷程。

同義詞
  • history

    broader; timeline implies a structured sequence of key points

  • story

    less structured; a timeline is more factual and date-driven

文法句型

the timeline of [someone/something]

用法筆記

Usually singular. Commonly paired with trace, follow, or present. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 tells a story about ONE subject's life or development, while sense 1 is a broad ordering of many separate events across a period.

常見錯誤

❌The timeline of the war shows dates' (sense 1 territory)
✅The timeline of the war shows how the country changed from beginning to end.
💡sense 3 emphasises the subject's transformation over time.

4. one of two or more separate sequences of events that exist within a fictional st

4.名詞B2
釋義

時序

故事或遊戲中並行或交替的事件序列

one of two or more separate sequences of events that exist within a fictional story, each set at a different time or running alongside one another — common in tales involving time travel, parallel worlds, or flashbacks across different periods.

例句

The sci-fi film follows two separate <hw>timelines</hw> — one set in 1995 and the other in 2085.

這部科幻電影沿著兩條不同的時序展開——一條設定在 1995 年，另一條在 2085 年。

pattern: two separate timelines — one in [year], the other in [year]

Players switch between a past <hw>timeline</hw> and a future one to unlock hidden clues in the game.

玩家可以在遊戲中切換過去與未來的時序，以解開隱藏線索。

同義詞
  • alternate reality

    broader; a timeline focuses on the sequence of events, not the whole world

  • storyline

    timeline emphasises chronological structure; storyline emphasises plot and character

文法句型

alternate timeline

parallel timeline

multiple timelines

用法筆記

Often plural because the concept implies at least two coexisting sequences. Frequently appears with alternate, parallel, split, or multiple. Common in reviews and discussions of time-travel or multiverse stories.

5. the area on a social media platform where updates, photos, videos, and posts fro

5.名詞A2
釋義

動態牆

社群網站上顯示用戶更新的區域

the area on a social media platform where updates, photos, videos, and posts from a user and the people they follow appear in reverse chronological order — newest content at the top.

例句

Christopher found an old photo from his graduation party while scrolling his Facebook <hw>timeline</hw>.

Christopher 在滑 Facebook 動態牆時翻到了一張畢業派對的舊照片。

The charity posted the fundraising results on their <hw>timeline</hw> so supporters could see the total raised.

這家慈善機構把募款結果貼在他們的動態牆上，支持者都能看到總金額。

collocation: post on [someone's] timeline

同義詞
  • feed

    more general; timeline is the specific term used by Facebook and some other platforms

  • wall

    older term used by early Facebook; timeline replaced wall in 2011

文法句型

on someone's timeline

scroll through a timeline

用法筆記

Specific to social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X (though Twitter uses 'feed' rather than 'timeline'). A user's timeline shows their own posts plus friends' activity. Distinguish from sense 2: a social media timeline is a livestream of content, not a forward-looking plan.

常見錯誤

❌I posted a timeline on the wall.' (confusing senses)
✅I posted a photo on my timeline.
💡use 'on' not 'to' for social media timelines.

6. the total amount of time allowed or available for completing a project, task, or

6.名詞B2
釋義

期程

完成任務所需的總時長

the total amount of time allowed or available for completing a project, task, or activity — often stated as a specific period such as three months or two years.

例句

The research team must finish the data collection within a six-month <hw>timeline</hw> set by the funding agency.

研究團隊必須在資助機構規定的六個月期程內完成資料收集。

pattern: within a [duration] timeline

Reema asked the client to confirm the project <hw>timeline</hw> before the designers began the mock-up phase.

Reema 在設計師開始草擬階段之前，先請客戶確認了專案的期程。

同義詞
  • time frame

    interchangeable; time frame is slightly more formal

  • duration

    refers only to length, not to deadlines or milestones

  • window

    suggests a narrower or more flexible period

文法句型

within a [number]-[unit] timeline

a timeline of [duration]

用法筆記

Often used in formal or business contexts. Frequently paired with adjectives such as strict, tight, realistic, six-month, or two-year. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is a detailed plan with individual deadlines; sense 6 is simply the total duration boundary.

常見錯誤

❌We have a timeline of six months.' (ambiguous)
✅We have a six-month timeline to complete the pilot study.
💡specify what the timeline applies to.