momentarily
Momentarily (adv) means For a very short period of time; briefly. Example: “She paused momentarily before answering the question.”
How to use momentarily
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "for a brief instant" or, especially in American English, "very soon."
If a British listener hears "the plane will be landing momentarily," they may picture the plane touching down for just a second, whereas the American speaker simply means "very soon."
British speakers usually mean "briefly" by this word, while Americans commonly use it to mean "shortly, in a minute" — this can cause transatlantic confusion.
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She paused _____ before answering the question.
Etymology
Formed from "momentary" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."
Related words
Rhymes for momentarily
See all rhymes for momentarily →Frequently asked questions
What does “momentarily” mean?
The word “momentarily” means for a very short period of time; briefly. In plain terms, either "for a brief instant" or, especially in American English, "very soon.".
How do you pronounce “momentarily”?
“Momentarily” is pronounced MOH-muhn-tuh-ruh-lee (/ˈməʊməntəɹəli/ in IPA).
How do you use “momentarily” in a sentence?
Here is “momentarily” used in a sentence: “She paused momentarily before answering the question.”
What is another word for “momentarily”?
Words with a similar meaning to “momentarily” include shortly, soon, progressively, temporarily and step by step.
What part of speech is “momentarily”?
“Momentarily” is an adverb.
Is “momentarily” a common word?
“Momentarily” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “momentarily” have?
“Momentarily” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: for a very short period of time; briefly.