temporary

¹tem·po·rary

adj \ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē\

Definition of TEMPORARY

: lasting for a limited time

— tem·po·rar·i·ness noun

Examples of TEMPORARY

1. The drug will give you temporary relief from the pain.
2. The delay is only temporary.
3. The settlers built temporary shelters.

Origin of TEMPORARY

Latin temporarius, from tempor-, tempus time

First Known Use: circa 1564

Related to TEMPORARY

Synonyms: ad interim, impermanent, interim, provisional, provisionary, provisory, short-term

Antonyms: long-term, permanent

Related Words: acting; alternate, proxy, substitute; expedient, improvised, makeshift; intermediary, intermediate, transitional; ephemeral, fleeting, fugitive, short-lived, transitory; conditional, contingent, limited, qualified, short-range, tentative; replaceable, terminable, terminate

Near Antonyms: final, fixed, set, settled; unconditional, unlimited, unqualified; extended, lasting, long-range, standing; dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with TEMPORARY

actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, necessary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry