Many of the proposed applications of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials may fail to materialise if the community doesn't fully address the difficult fundamental work needed to map out the time-gap in the literature. While there are a range of excellent investigations into MOF dynamics and time-dependent phenomena, generally these works represent only a tiny fraction of the vast field of MOF studies. This review provides an overview of current research into the temporal evolution of MOF structures and properties by analysis of the time-resolved experimental techniques that can be used to monitor such behaviours. We focus on new and innovative techniques, while also discussing older methods well-utilised with other chemical systems. Four areas are examined: MOF formation, guest motion, electron motion, and framework motion. In each area, we highlight the disparity between the relatively small amount of (published) research on key time-dependent phenomena and the enormous scope for acquiring wider and deeper understanding essential for the future of the field.