adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of momentary
1425–75; late Middle English momentare < Latin mōmentārius. See moment, -ary
Explanation
Something that lasts for a very short time is momentary. A flash of lightning is momentary, since it blazes across the sky for only a second or two. Use the adjective momentary when you want to describe something brief or fleeting, like a momentary pause in a speech or a momentary flash of insight that pops into your head and disappears. If it lasts just a moment, it's momentary. The root word is the Latin momentarius, "of brief duration," which in turn comes from momentum, "short time, or instant."
Vocabulary lists containing momentary
Chronically Dolores
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The Ink Witch
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Brief
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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.
The high volatility during Tuesday’s trading session could wind up being a momentary blip as the hardware-infrastructure buildup to support generative artificial intelligence continues.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026
Then, with a brush, he captures the momentary disturbance of the water caused by an unseen diver.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
Another benefit these impromptu conversations offer: the momentary glow that comes from simply being acknowledged.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
“It’ll have a momentary effect, no doubt about it. Humans are very reactionary,” Parsons said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2026
Then I remember reading Horatio’s letter, and despair, like a cold wind, dispels the momentary peace.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
