momentary
MOH-muhnt-ree
Momentary (adj) means lasting only a very brief time. Example: “He felt a momentary flash of doubt before signing.”
adj
1
Lasting only a very brief time.
"He felt a momentary flash of doubt before signing."
"There was a momentary silence after the announcement."
How to use momentary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that happens for just a moment and then passes.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
momentary lapse
momentary silence
momentary hesitation
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more momentary
- Superlative
- most momentary
Fill the gap
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He felt a _____ flash of doubt before signing.
Etymology
From Late Latin mōmentārius, "of brief duration," built on mōmentum, "a short time, an instant."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for momentary
See all rhymes for momentary →Frequently asked questions
What does “momentary” mean?
The word “momentary” means lasting only a very brief time. In plain terms, something that happens for just a moment and then passes.
How do you pronounce “momentary”?
“Momentary” is pronounced MOH-muhnt-ree (/ˈmoʊmənˌtɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “momentary” in a sentence?
Here is “momentary” used in a sentence: “He felt a momentary flash of doubt before signing.”
What part of speech is “momentary”?
“Momentary” is an adjective.
Where does the word “momentary” come from?
The word “momentary” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin mōmentārius, "of brief duration," built on mōmentum, "a short time, an instant.".
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