temp
noun
an office worker hired, usually through an agency on a per diem basis, for a short period of time; a temporary worker.
temp
1 American
[temp]
/ tɛmp /
noun
-
temps
plural
verb (used without object)
-
temps,
present (3rd person singular)
-
temped,
past participle, past
-
temping
present participle
temp.
2
American
abbreviation
-
temperature.
-
temporary.
-
in the time of.
temp.
1
British
abbreviation
-
temperate
-
temperature
-
temporary
-
tempore
temp
2
British
/ tɛmp /
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
tempsimple
-
tempssimple
-
have tempedperfect
-
has tempedperfect
-
am tempingprogressive
-
are tempingprogressive
-
is tempingprogressive
-
have been tempingperfect progressive
-
has been tempingperfect progressive
Past
-
tempedsimple
-
had tempedperfect
-
was tempingprogressive
-
were tempingprogressive
-
had been tempingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of temp1
First recorded in 1930–35; by shortening
Origin of temp.2
From the Latin word tempore
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.
See Examples For:
She studied literature at university and joined Google in 2006 as an entry-level temp with no computer science degree.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
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
Just like her mother, Kelly developed a habit of picking up side hustles to complement her music gigs, including teaching, nannying and even working for a temp agency.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
There's always a temp agency or consulting firm that can farm out someone, but it's hit or miss with temp hires, who typically don't really care.
From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon
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
We can scarcely hope to get a better surface at this season, but I wish we could have some help from the wind, though it might shake us up badly if the temp. didn't rise.'
From The Voyages of Captain Scott : Retold from the Voyage of the Discovery and Scott's Last Expedition by Charles Turley
Oysters live down in the sea In zones both temp. and torrid, And when they are good they are very good indeed, And when they are bad they are horrid.
From Perfect Behavior; a guide for ladies and gentlemen in all social crises by Donald Ogden Stewart
Once it’s connected to Wi-Fi, you can adjust temperatures from your phone, while the meat probe tracks internal food temps.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
“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
“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
"They had temped in what I think are real eagle or hawk sounds, which sounded pretty good," said Baker.
From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2022
By twenty-seven, Anderson-Lopez was a not-very-successful actress who temped during the day and did everything she could to stay involved with musical theatre.
From The New Yorker ● Dec. 22, 2016
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
I was temping, barely surviving — I’d spend hours on one drip.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2020
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
Six months after graduating from the University of Connecticut, a typical 40-hour workweek for me includes a mix of temping for a local talent agency and bartending at Bowtie Cinemas.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 19, 2019
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
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