momentary

[moh-muhn-ter-ee]

adjective

1. lasting but a moment; very brief; fleeting.

   a momentary glimpse.

2. that might occur at any moment; ever impending.

   to live in fear of momentary annihilation.

3. effective or recurring at every moment; constant.

momentary

/ ˈməʊməntərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. lasting for only a moment; temporary

Other Word Forms

• momentariness noun
• intermomentary adjective
• nonmomentariness noun
• nonmomentary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of momentary¹

1425–75; late Middle English momentare < Latin mōmentārius. See moment, -ary

Example Sentences

Short sellers piled into the stock, setting up the momentary rebound typical of meme stocks.

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It was just a momentary respite from reviewing game video, several hours left to go before he could finally head home.

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Trimble-Pettitt originally pleaded guilty in January but on a basis that the dogs' escape was due to a momentary lapse of concentration, police said.

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"Unfortunately, apart from some momentary outcry, similar events are becoming increasingly irrelevant and seen as marginal news items," he wrote.

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Prosecutor Adrian Stalker said his driving had been dangerous and was "not just a lack of judgement or momentary inattention".

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Related Words

• short-lived 
• temporary 
• transitory