momentary

CEFRB2

/ˈmoʊmənˌtɛɹi/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Lasting for only a very short time.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Ephemeral or relatively short-lived.

Examples

  • He gave a momentary glance to the passers by.

  • There was a momentary pause.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3

Also pronounced

  • /ˈməʊmənt(ə)ɹi/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Happening at every moment; perpetual.

  2. Lasting for only a moment.

More examples

In context

  • Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse, but it may have been a momentary one,[…].”

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Fortunately, the sudden electrical blackout was blank, lasting only a few seconds.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English momentare, from Late Latin mōmentārius (“of brief duration”), from mōmentum (“a short time, an instant”). By surface analysis, moment + -ary.