Understanding population response to disturbance is critical to both ecological theory and wildlife conservation. The current framework for quantifying demographic resilience assumes that resilience is static. Yet, survival and fecundity, two key components of demography, change over time. Here, we assessed how incorporating time affects the estimates of demographic resilience of two spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) populations with 55 years of combined longitudinal data. We developed an approach based on mark-recapture data, matrix population models and transient analyses to calculate five resilience metrics. We found strong evidence that incorporating time improves the assessment of inertia (long-term population response) and maximum attenuation (greatest reduction in population size). Resilience estimates were also highly sensitive to population structure, the proportion of individuals in different life states. Considering variation over time in assessing demographic resilience will make resilience estimates more accurate, thereby extending their utility for both ecological theory and conservation.