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caught up in the moment

American  

idiom

  1. having one's attention so absorbed by immediate events or circumstances as to become overcome by emotion, prone to errors of judgment, or unable to notice or attend to other things.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

At a packed wedding reception, where a couple is making the rounds and guests are caught up in the moment, slipping out unnoticed isn’t just acceptable—it might be the most polite option.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026

But, caught up in the moment of his 85th-minute goal, striker Ekitike removed his shirt and held it up to the Liverpool fans in celebration.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2025

He was too exhausted, too caught up in the moment, to take it all in.

From Seattle Times ● May 17, 2024

“I thought you saw a young player who got caught up in the moment of competing,” Ansley said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2023

I guess I got caught up in the moment.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

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