momentous
Americanadjective
adjective
Related Words
See heavy.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of momentous
Explanation
Momentous describes an important event or moment in time. It is used for a time of great consequence or for a major accomplishment, and is almost always reserved for good things. When a moment is so great you know you'll never forget it, you have just experienced something momentous. It can be personal — perhaps the day you were named prom queen; or something historic — like the day Elizabeth was named Queen of England. Momentous and momentary share the root word moment but momentary describes just one fleeting moment in time. A momentary occurrence can certainly be momentous, but it's not always the case.
Vocabulary lists containing momentous
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "M"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
David’s eventual decision to leave the priesthood for Margaret is painful and momentous.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
Some fellow students knew Roberts’ politics but insisted that he didn’t engage in debates about these momentous battles.
From Slate • May 7, 2026
Closing off a momentous week for both companies, CoreWeave and Anthropic announced a multi-year compute agreement on Friday that’s scheduled to go online later this year.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
With a tour looming in the summer and a first-time Coachella slot coming next month, Slayyyter is winding up for a momentous year.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
In a momentous 1954 court case called Brown v.
From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman
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.
