noun
Common
moments
MOH-muhnts
Moments (noun) means Very short periods of time; instants. Example: “She stood there for a few moments before knocking.”
noun
1
Very short periods of time; instants.
"She stood there for a few moments before knocking."
"The whole thing was over in moments."
"The kettle boiled within moments of my pressing the switch."
2
Particular points in time that stand out because of what happens in them.
"The wedding video captures all the best moments."
"There were moments when I genuinely thought we would lose."
"Winning the final was one of the proudest moments of my life."
3
informal Brief periods in which someone performs unusually well, used in the phrase 'have your moments'.
"He is not a great cook, but he has his moments."
"My old car is slow, but it has its moments on the open road."
"The film is mostly dull, though it has its moments."
How to use moments
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShort stretches of time, or the little bits of time that matter.
When to use it
Neutral in every sense except 'have your moments', which is conversational.
Memory tip
'In a moment' means soon; 'at the moment' means right now. The two are not interchangeable.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a few moments
in a moment
moments later
precious moments
have your moments
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She stood there for a few _____ before knocking.
Etymology
Plural of moment, from Latin momentum 'movement, an instant of time'.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
How long is a moment?
In modern English a moment is not a fixed length — it just means a very short time, usually seconds rather than minutes. The old medieval unit of a moment was about 90 seconds, but nobody uses that meaning today.
What does 'he has his moments' mean?
It means the person is not consistently good at something, but occasionally does it very well. It is mild praise with a built-in qualification.
What is the meaning of moments?
"moments" (noun) means very short periods of time; instants.
What is another word for moments?
Other words for "moments" include instants, seconds, minutes, occasions, times, points.
