moment
- 01 A1 Beginner
a very brief period of time.
a brief, typically unspecified interval of time.
Simple“Wait just a moment while I find my keys in my bag.”
In context“The speaker paused for a moment to gather his thoughts before addressing the difficult question from the audience.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
a particular point in time when something happens.
a precise point in time, often associated with a specific event or realization.
Simple“It was a great moment when the team finally won the trophy.”
In context“At that exact moment, the sun broke through the clouds, illuminating the valley just as the ceremony began.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
the importance or value of an event or decision.
the quality of being important or significant; consequence.
Simple“The decision to move to a new country was a matter of great moment.”
In context“The treaty was an agreement of such historical moment that it altered the geopolitical landscape for the next century.”
SynonymsAntonymsinsignificancetriviality - 04 C1 Advanced
a measure of the turning effect of a force.
the product of a physical quantity, such as force, and its distance from a reference point.
Simple“The engineer calculated the bending moment to ensure the bridge was safe.”
In context“The structural integrity of the crane depends on balancing the moment of the load against the counterweight.”
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
a number that describes the shape of a set of data.
a quantitative measure of the shape of a set of points or a probability distribution.
Simple“The first moment of a distribution is simply the mean.”
In context“Higher-order moments, such as skewness and kurtosis, provide deeper insights into the asymmetry and peakedness of the data set.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
a time when someone or something is very popular or talked about.
a period of significant cultural relevance or peak popularity for a person or trend.
Simple“Vinyl records are having a moment right now as more people buy them.”
In context“The young actress is truly having a moment, appearing on every major magazine cover this month.”
- 07 C1 Advanced
a typical or embarrassing way that a person acts.
an instance of behavior considered characteristic of a specific person or group, often used to describe a lapse in judgment.
Simple“I forgot my own phone number—I guess I'm just having a moment.”
In context“The politician's confused response during the interview was quickly labeled a 'senior moment' by the local press.”
Usage moment for reflection · moment in time · moment for any rushing
From Middle English moment, from Old French moment, from Latin mōmentum. Doublet of momentum and movement.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.