moment

noun

Save Word

mo·ment | \ ˈmō-mənt

Definition of moment

1a : a minute portion or point of time : instant a moment of dreadful suspense— Graham Greene

b : a comparatively brief period of time moments of solitude

2a : present time at the moment she is at work on her fourth novel — Holiday

b : a time of excellence or conspicuousness there's … some deliciously funny moments, but most of it is numbingly subtle— Jess Cagle

3 : importance in influence or effect decisions of moment must be made by our government— L. H. Evans

4 obsolete : a cause or motive of action

5 : a stage in historical or logical development a document of one moment in the history of thought and sensibility in the nineteenth century— T. S. Eliot

6a : tendency or measure of tendency to produce motion especially about a point or axis

b : the product of quantity (such as a force) and the distance to a particular axis or point

7a : the mean (see mean entry 4 sense 1b) of the nth powers of the deviations (see deviation sense b) of the observed values in a set of statistical data from a fixed value

b : the expected value of a power of the deviation (see deviation sense b) of a random variable from a fixed value

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About moment

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for moment

importance, consequence, moment, weight, significance mean a quality or aspect having great worth or significance. importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone. a region with no cities of importance consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects. the style you choose is of little consequence moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence. a decision of great moment weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something. the argument carried no weight with the judge significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized. the treaty's significance

Examples of moment in a Sentence

The sun was shining. Moments later, it began to rain. It was a moment before she realized what had happened. She stopped for a moment and peeked into the window. It should only take a moment to fix the problem. I'm very busy and I don't have a moment to spare. One moment it was sunny; the next it was pouring rain. The moment for us to act has arrived. War seemed unavoidable at that moment in history. She knew exactly the right moment to ask for a raise. We had an exciting vacation. There was never a dull moment.

Recent Examples on the Web He got caught up in the moment, but who could blame him, given the situation? — Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 5 Sep. 2021 After the victory, Erickson told reporters that staying in the moment—not looking ahead to what may happen, or focusing too much on what already did—was key to staying on top. — Johanna Gretsche, SELF, 5 Sep. 2021 The gathering together of a group of diverse people to experience the telling of a human story: Live and in the moment. — David Ellenstein Writer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2021 Sharp-dressed with a fedora and suspenders, George beamed with pride, too, while soaking in the moment with his sidekick of six decades. — Edgar Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 4 Sep. 2021 The season has not been without controversy — between the ladies in the moment and among fans upon airing — but as far as endings go, this was a lovely one. — Mary Sollosi, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2021 The 18-year-old also shared a memory with her dad that was scary in the moment, but fun to look back on. — Naledi Ushe, PEOPLE.com, 3 Sep. 2021 Early in the band's 95-minute set Wednesday, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong practically pleaded with the crowd to put down their phones and enjoy the togetherness, to live in the moment. — Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2021 Offering any level of flexibility, from 100% remote optional to one to two days per week remote, is a significant recruiting advantage that is essential to staying competitive in this moment. — Aram Lulla, Forbes, 1 Sep. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'moment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.