temperature.
temporary.
in the time of.
temperate
temperature
temporary
tempore
First recorded in 1930–35; by shortening
From the Latin word tempore
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A pivotal reveal at the end of Episode 3 was edited using the UK version of “The Apprentice” theme song as temp music during postproduction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
“They will continue to monitor my temp or my symptoms.”
From Salon ● May 27, 2026
Prime Video’s award-winning series returns with a new unwitting hero, who is hired as a temp at a hot sauce company — gentle, funny pranks ensue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2026
"Whether that's putting in some sort of temporary structure or putting a temp track across the field alongside the landslide."
From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026
She found temp work at legal agencies, keeping alive that distant dream of going to law school.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Don't overshoot the mark on the crust and accidentally let the interior temp. get away from you.
From Salon ● Feb. 21, 2025
Simply toss them with a bit of oil, some salt and whatever seasonings you like and/or have on hand, and roast at a medium-high temp. until they're browned and fragrant.
From Salon ● Nov. 19, 2022
A sign at the trailhead announced: “12 mile round trip temp. exceeds 100 F min. 1 gallon water per person/day no shade no water.”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 30, 2015
Sunday, July 19th.—Minimum temp. last night 38 degrees.
From Woman's Way Through Unknown Labrador by Hubbard, Mina Benson
Every successful novelist up to his time had, whatever his ostensible "temp. of tale," quietly assumed the thoughts, the speech, the manners, even to a great extent the dress and details of his own day.
From A History of Nineteenth Century Literature (1780-1895) by Saintsbury, George
“Laissez les bons temps rouler” is as relevant to younger investors as Warren Buffett’s advice to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful has been to older generations.
From Barron's ● Apr. 15, 2026
For Foster, it’s an assurance against opening day and temps in October and November that might be too warm for both natural snow and snowmaking.
From Slate ● Apr. 11, 2026
If companies hired fewer temps than they usually do, the seasonal adjustments applied by the BLS could make the employment picture look a lot worse in November than it really is.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 15, 2025
Roles were automated away, or increasingly, replaced by temps and consultants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2025
“Says the girl sitting outside in subglacial temps while the vampires are out looking for a snack with sprinkles.”
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
One reason the stock market has performed so much better in recent years is that investors weren’t being temped by yields in the bond market, which have been lousy.
From MarketWatch ● May 22, 2026
“When he didn’t jump into the feed tub we temped him and starting watching,” Yakteen said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2023
To the delight of your family and friends, you herb-rubbed, temped, roasted, temped again, carved, and served up a prime rib during the holiday season.
From Salon ● Jan. 6, 2022
She travelled and temped all around America for the next few years, always writing but not sure what to do with it.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 24, 2017
She asked that I remind her to bring along a young blonde who temped at the office to be in the throng the next day.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
I moved in with friends over the summer and started temping to make money.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026
Maybe I’ll be a teacher, I could go back to temping ...
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2023
I went to his office where he was temping and practiced walking and reading lines, and he said, “See, you can do it.”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 14, 2022
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill Tuesday after agreeing to changes including prohibiting the sale of chilled beer or wine that might be more temping to drink on the way home.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 28, 2020
She’s spent the past summer temping, working for two months in the business office of an expensive midtown hotel.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
