momentary

American  

[moh-muhn-ter-ee] / ˈmoʊ mənˌtɛr i /

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.

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momentary British  

/ ˈməʊməntərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. lasting for only a moment; temporary

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of momentary

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

Example Sentences

At first, even he felt a momentary pang of caution.

From The Wall Street Journal

His example reminds us that showing up regularly can be worth far more than any momentary spark of inspiration.

From The Wall Street Journal

Held once every four years, often in finicky environments, pressurized with all that hype, they’re less a measure of consistency than they are of momentary mettle.

From The Wall Street Journal

The momentary excitement had taken Owen’s mind off the cold, but now he felt the wind and snow coming right down the metal pipe.

From Literature

Until then, let’s enjoy each week’s momentary rescue delivered whenever Cumming intones, “Players, the time for talk is over.”

From Salon

Related Words

• short-lived
• temporary
• transitory