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.
Karoline is pregnant, thanks to a momentary pursuit of pleasure, and that predicament has resulted in the loss of her job at a textile factory. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024 Lori Kennard was awarded $385,000 for invasion of privacy related to the momentary disclosure of her name in Our Father. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2024 The pair had been dueling each other for three weeks, maintaining a mind-boggling level of concentration during that time, for any momentary lapse could cost them the game. Issy Ronald, CNN, 25 Nov. 2024 Will the gift elicit a momentary laugh and then end up in the trash or being donated to a thrift store? Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near momentary

Cite this Entry

“Momentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentary. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!