noun

moments

MOH-muhnts

Moments (noun) means Very short periods of time; instants. Example: “She stood there for a few moments before knocking.”

noun

Very short periods of time; instants.

"She stood there for a few moments before knocking."

"The whole thing was over in moments."

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."

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."

How to use moments

Learner’s notes

In 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

momentum → momentary →

Common pairings

a few moments in a moment moments later precious moments have your moments

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She stood there for a few _____ before knocking.

Etymology

Plural of moment, from Latin momentum 'movement, an instant of time'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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instants seconds minutes occasions times points

Related words

days times post minutes points seconds score proceedings

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.

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days times post minutes points seconds score proceedings