adjective
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
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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Brief
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-ary
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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.
CrowdStrike Holdings is having a stellar month, and that hot run isn’t just a momentary blip, according to analysts at Morgan Stanley.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
Speaking to the BBC last year, she admitted to a momentary crisis of confidence.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Observing that momentary disappearance allows scientists to calculate the asteroid's position, speed, and shape with remarkable precision.
From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026
A momentary price spike Sunday night gave oil companies the opportunity to lock in future deliveries at higher rates.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026
June’s head popped up, a grin pushing out the momentary sadness in her eyes.
From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake
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.
