momentarily

[moh-muhn-tair-uh-lee, moh-muhn-ter-]

adverb

1. for a moment; briefly.

   to pause momentarily.

2. at any moment; imminently.

   expected to occur momentarily.

3. Now Rare.,  instantly.

momentarily

/ -trɪlɪ, ˈməʊməntərəlɪ /

adverb

1. for an instant; temporarily

2. from moment to moment; every instant

3. very soon

Word History and Origins

Origin of momentarily¹

First recorded in 1645–55; momentary + -ly

Example Sentences

Those students’ mood momentarily brightened when they were given tie-dye T-shirts as a tribute to the late Bill Walton, who was honored in a pregame video.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This is a long way of getting into a column about Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor, who has been crazy good this season—MVP good, if we can momentarily pretend he has a chance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Despite being bigger, bolder and more shocking than the average form of activism, we’ve watched as extremists momentarily capture the world’s attention, before the general narrative inevitably sways a different way.

Read more on Salon

But if the central bank makes less dovish statements than expected, it may keep gold prices momentarily dormant.

Read more on MarketWatch

He momentarily allowed De Minaur back into the match in the second set when dropping serve in the sixth game, before breaking again and wrapping up his 20th straight win on indoor hard courts.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• briefly 
• immediately 
• instantly 
• temporarily