moment

noun

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 & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about moment

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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

Wie also shared which are her favorites at the moment. — Alysha Tsuji, For The Win, "Michelle Wie gives fans a look at her huge shoe collection," 12 July 2018 In the last couple of days, however, the weather has proved favorable and the rescue teams have taken full advantage of the moment. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Four More Thai Boys Rescued From Cave, Bringing Number Up to 8," 9 July 2018 However, the franchise’s reliance on certain visual effects techniques took away one of McKellen’s favorite things about acting—the interplay and in-the-moment relationships between actors. — Nathan Mattise, Ars Technica, "In new documentary, Ian McKellen reflects on Magneto, Gandalf," 8 July 2018 For some reason, his school – in a country where freedom of speech is a constitution right, and the city of Frederick Douglass – turned his moment of triumph into a time of sorrow and pain. — Paula Rogo, Essence.com, "First Black Valedictorian Speaks At City Hall After High School Denies Him Graduation Speech," 7 July 2018 The bird balances skillfully on a delicate branch, its wings splayed out against the backdrop of a dark night’s sky, its majestic power frozen for a moment in time by wildlife photographer Steve Mattheis. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Peep the Stunning Winners of the Audubon Society’s Photo Contest," 6 July 2018 Their three main projects at the moment are a documentary film, a stage show, and footwork summer camps-all intended to tell the story of footwork, to grow the community, and to pass footwork along to the next generation. — Anna White, Chicago Reader, "Hip-Hop / Music Chicago's footwork community takes center stage at the MCA," 6 July 2018 An eye-watering $1,399 for the full bundle, compared to $499 for the standard Vive at the moment. — Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "This week in games: Dead Island 2 revival, Kingdom Come: Deliverance DLC and Shenmue on PC," 6 July 2018 Along with the oversized hair moment, the runway also featured several models wearing beautiful handmade flower headpieces with their couture gowns. — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Gowns At Valentino's Couture Show Will Take Your Breath Away," 5 July 2018

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.