Word
temporary
Phoneticstem·po·rary
US/ˈtɛmpɝˌɛɹi/
UK/tˈɛmpɹəɹˌi/
Definitions
01not permanent
B1 · Intermediate
adj. lasting for only a limited time.
adj. lasting for a limited period; not intended to be permanent or enduring.
“The city set up temporary housing for people after the flood.”
“The government implemented temporary measures to stabilise the economy while the long-term structural reforms were being debated in parliament.”
Synonyms
02short-term worker
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who is hired to work for a short time, often through an agency.
n. an employee hired for a limited duration, typically to cover for an absent staff member or during peak periods.
“We hired a temporary to help with the extra paperwork this month.”
“The agency sent a temporary to manage the reception desk while the regular administrative assistant was on maternity leave.”
Usage
Often shortened to 'temp' in casual office conversation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03programming variable
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a variable used in computer code to hold a value for a very short time.
n. a short-term variable used to store an intermediate result during a calculation or process.
“The program stores the user's name in a temporary before saving it to the database.”
“The algorithm creates a temporary to hold the swap value, ensuring that no data is lost during the sorting process.”
Usage
Frequently used as a noun in technical documentation.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “temporary” in context.
Verb
01. find temporary work
“Many students find temporary work during the summer holidays to pay for their tuition.”
verb + adj + noun
02. offer temporary relief
“The new medication offered temporary relief from the patient's chronic pain.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. purely temporary
“Don't worry about the noise; the construction work is purely temporary.”
adv + adj
04. temporary in nature
“The current shortage of staff is expected to be temporary in nature.”
adj + prep + noun
Noun
05. temporary accommodation
“The council provided temporary accommodation for the families affected by the flood.”
adj + noun
06. temporary job
“She took a temporary job at the warehouse while she looked for a permanent position.”
adj + noun
07. temporary measure
“The government introduced a tax cut as a temporary measure to stimulate the economy.”
adj + noun
08. temporary setback
“Losing the first match was a temporary setback, but the team eventually won the tournament.”
adj + noun
09. temporary shelters
10. temporary ban
11. temporary closure
Real-World Examples
“Hospital staff moved equipment outdoors, including beds, IV stands and oxygen cylinders, and set up temporary treatment areas to adapt to emergency conditions.” “We are currently designing a temporary route that will become the final route in the next stages,” the minister said.” “The family is relying on a temporary solar power system and leftover well water from the winter after supply lines were cut.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin temporarius, from tempus (“time”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- 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
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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