temporary

[ tem-puh-rer-ee ]

See synonyms for: temporary temporaries temporarily on Thesaurus.com

adjective

lasting, existing, serving, or effective for a time only; not permanent: a temporary need;a temporary job.

noun,plural tem·po·rar·ies.

temp (def. 1).

Origin of temporary

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin temporārius, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus ) “time” + -ārius -ary

synonym study For temporary

1. Temporary, transient, transitory agree in referring to that which is not lasting or permanent. Temporary implies an arrangement established with no thought of continuance but with the idea of being changed soon: a temporary structure. Transient describes that which is in the process of passing by, and which will therefore last or stay only a short time: a transient condition. Transitory describes an innate characteristic by which a thing, by its very nature, lasts only a short time: Life is transitory.

Other words for temporary

1	impermanent, passing

See synonyms for temporary on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for temporary

permanent

See antonyms for temporary on Thesaurus.com

Other words from temporary

tem·po·rar·i·ly [tem-puh-rair-uh-lee, tem-puh-rer-], /ˌtɛm pəˈrɛər ə li, ˈtɛm pəˌrɛr-/, adverb
tem·po·rar·i·ness, noun
non·tem·po·rar·i·ness, noun
non·tem·po·rar·y, adjective
un·tem·po·rar·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use temporary in a sentence

According to Ingham’s filing, Spears wanted her temporary conservator, licensed professional conservator Jodi Montgomery, to stay on permanently instead.
Why Britney Spears’s fans are convinced she’s being held captive | Constance Grady | November 11, 2020 | Vox
Even moves to limit political ads on election week, while likely helpful, were temporary.
Twitter and Facebook warning labels aren’t enough to save democracy | Geoffrey Fowler | November 9, 2020 | Washington Post
The temporary isolation for what amounts to a false-positive result was rare for the NFL.
Steelers stay unbeaten, Chargers drop another heartbreaker in NFL Week 9 | Cindy Boren, Mark Maske, Des Bieler | November 9, 2020 | Washington Post
It sought a temporary restraining order to allow worshipers to congregate for holy days in October.
New York’s block-by-block lockdowns are curbing covid-19. But residents aren’t pleased. | Ben Guarino | November 8, 2020 | Washington Post
Nicole Martinez worked at a day program for people with disabilities in Tucson, providing rehabilitation services and respite care for family members who need a temporary break from caretaking duties.
People with Developmental Disabilities Were Promised Help. Instead, They Face Delays and Denials. | by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star, with data analysis by Alex Devoid, Arizona Daily Star | November 5, 2020 | ProPublica

It was the planlessness, the flimsy temporariness of the buildings, their faded unpleasant colors.
Main Street | Sinclair Lewis
The only effect it had on the position was that Uncle Mo's temporariness got a little boastful, and slighted his permanency.
When Ghost Meets Ghost | William Frend De Morgan

British Dictionary definitions for temporary

temporary

/ (ˈtɛmpərərɪ, ˈtɛmprərɪ) /

adjective

not permanent; provisional: temporary accommodation
lasting only a short time; transitory: temporary relief from pain

nounplural -raries

a person, esp a secretary or other office worker, employed on a temporary basis: Often shortened to: temp

Origin of temporary

C16: from Latin temporārius, from tempus time

Derived forms of temporary

temporarily, adverb
temporariness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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