Word
momentary
Phoneticsmo·men·tary
US/ˈmoʊmənˌtɛɹi/
UK/mˈəʊməntəɹˌi/
Definitions
01lasting a short time
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. lasting for only a very short time.
adj. lasting for a brief moment; transient or fleeting in duration.
Español:momentario
“There was a momentary silence before the crowd started cheering.”
“The driver experienced a momentary lapse in concentration, which was fortunately corrected before the vehicle drifted out of its lane.”
02short-lived
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. lasting for a short period rather than being permanent.
adj. ephemeral or relatively short-lived in a broader temporal context.
“His fame was momentary, and people soon forgot his name.”
“The stock market saw a momentary recovery in prices, though analysts warned that the underlying economic indicators remained weak.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage
Often used attributively before a noun; frequently paired with nouns like 'silence', 'lapse', 'confusion', or 'distraction'.
Pitfall
He is a momentary person
He is a transient person
Momentary describes the duration of an event or state, not the permanent character or nature of a person.
Real-World Examples
“It was very momentary – very temporary, almost.”
In 1988, Broadrick and Green, who grew up on the same estate, started Godflesh.” Etymology
From Middle English momentare, from Late Latin mōmentārius (“of brief duration”), from mōmentum (“a short time, an instant”). By surface analysis, moment + -ary.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/momentary
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0