English Reference
Adverb

temporarily

adv. time
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US /ˌtɛmpɝˈɛɹəɫi/ UK /tˌɛmpəɹˈɛɹəli/ tem·po·rar·ily

adv.for a short time only. You use this to describe something that is not permanent and will change back later.

adv.for a limited period of time; not permanently.


SIMPLE

The office is temporarily closed for repairs.

CONTEXTUAL

The road is temporarily blocked while workers clear the fallen tree from the path.

COMPLEX

Although the museum is temporarily housed in a smaller building, the full collection will be on display once the main gallery renovation is complete next year.

Usage

Typically placed before the verb it modifies or at the end of the clause.

Usage temporarily blocked · temporarily suspended

In areas where the clouds obscured the view, some viewers reported that it temporarily got a little darker than it otherwise would have been, as the Moon blocked the light from the Sun.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026

Some expect the White House to return to that system, at least temporarily.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026

Common in science writing


From temporary + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated