momentary

adjective

mo·​men·​tary ˈmō-mən-ˌter-ē How to pronounce momentary (audio)
1
a
: continuing only a moment : fleeting
b
: having a very brief life
2
: operative or recurring at every moment
momentariness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for momentary

transient, transitory, ephemeral, momentary, fugitive, fleeting, evanescent mean lasting or staying only a short time.

transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.

fame in the movies is transitory

ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.

my feelings of guilt were only momentary

fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face
fleeting moments of joy

evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

Examples of momentary in a Sentence

He experienced a momentary loss of consciousness. the pain of the flu shot was only momentary
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The momentary look may have been an experiment on forthcoming fall trends, as described by stylist Jacob Rozenberg in conversation with WWD in August. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025 These signals are momentary, yet powerful. Scott Hutcheson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 On the Open broadcast from New York, there was some momentary confusion during the broadcast about what exactly had just transpired. Nbc News, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2025 That momentary relief, in my view, is not worth all that families sacrifice when kids have phones in schools. Gail Cornwall, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for momentary

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of momentary was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Momentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentary. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

momentary

adjective
mo·​men·​tary ˈmō-mən-ˌter-ē How to pronounce momentary (audio)
: lasting only a moment

More from Merriam-Webster on momentary

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