# momentary

/ˈmoʊmənˌtɛɹi/ (US) · /mˈəʊməntəɹˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/momentary
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. lasting a short time

adjective · CEFR B2

lasting for only a very short time.

For teachers: lasting for a brief moment; transient or fleeting in duration.

- 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.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. short-lived

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

lasting for a short period rather than being permanent.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- There was a momentary silence before she spoke.
- The driver experienced a momentary lapse in concentration, but luckily he regained control of the car quickly.
- The artist captured a momentary play of light across the valley, freezing a transition that would have been lost to the human eye seconds later.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.