momentarily

[moh-muh n-tair-uh-lee, moh-muh n-ter-]

See more synonyms for momentarily on Thesaurus.com

adverb

for a moment; briefly: to pause momentarily.
at any moment; imminently: expected to occur momentarily.
instantly.

Origin of momentarily

First recorded in 1645–55; momentary + -ly

Can be confusedcurrently immediately momentarily now presently soon (see synonym study at immediately) (see usage note at presently)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for momentarily

Contemporary Examples

Somebody yanks Chan and elbows him and he is momentarily distracted trying to apprehend his assailant.
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop
Michael Daly
December 16, 2014
While attempting to pull a bin of canned food toward him, Bob is momentarily pulled underwater by a walker sneak-attack.
The Walking Dead’s Most Gruesome Scene Yet: ‘A Man’s Gotta Eat’
Melissa Leon
October 20, 2014
They are told that this event is important, and they may, momentarily, set aside their skepticism.
The Real Housewives of Miss America
Kate Shindle
September 21, 2014
Scourges, he says, “are killers who act, momentarily, as agents freed from sacred order and its commanding truths.”
The Real Nightmare of Ferguson
James Poulos
August 15, 2014
RT brass seemed to have momentarily forgotten, however, that they were in Washington, not Moscow.
Watch RT, Putin's TV Network, Call the Cops on Me
James Kirchick
March 7, 2014

Historical Examples

He had discovered years before that he was sometimes able thus to puzzle her momentarily.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
"He wants to build," answered Hattie, momentarily encouraged.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
Calendar's moon-like visage was momentarily divested of any trace of color.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance
Moist flesh if it chanced to touch iron froze to it momentarily.
Bride of the Mistletoe
James Lane Allen
Phee-e-al, too, had been only momentarily stunned—he was springing.
Two Thousand Miles Below
Charles Willard Diffin

British Dictionary definitions for momentarily

momentarily

adverb

for an instant; temporarily
from moment to moment; every instant
US and Canadian very soon

Also (for senses 1, 2): momently (ˈməʊməntlɪ)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for momentarily

adv.

1650s, "for a moment," from momentary + -ly (2). Meaning "at any moment" is from 1928.

momentarily

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Examples from the Web for momentarily

Contemporary Examples

Somebody yanks Chan and elbows him and he is momentarily distracted trying to apprehend his assailant.

While attempting to pull a bin of canned food toward him, Bob is momentarily pulled underwater by a walker sneak-attack.

They are told that this event is important, and they may, momentarily, set aside their skepticism.

Scourges, he says, “are killers who act, momentarily, as agents freed from sacred order and its commanding truths.”

RT brass seemed to have momentarily forgotten, however, that they were in Washington, not Moscow.

Historical Examples

He had discovered years before that he was sometimes able thus to puzzle her momentarily.

"He wants to build," answered Hattie, momentarily encouraged.

Calendar's moon-like visage was momentarily divested of any trace of color.

Moist flesh if it chanced to touch iron froze to it momentarily.

Phee-e-al, too, had been only momentarily stunned—he was springing.

momentarily

Word Origin and History for momentarily

adv.

Origin of momentarily