momentous
adjective
mo·men·tous
mō-ˈmen-təs 
mə-
: having great or lasting importance : consequential, significant
a momentous decision
a momentous event/occasion
The Senate begins a momentous debate on health care today …—
The New York Times
The New York TimesDeydey usually talked about his travels, the places he'd seen and the people, the close calls and momentous encounters with animals, weather, other Anishinabeg, and best of all, ghosts.—Louise Erdrich
Louise ErdrichThe late nineteenth century was strewn with inventions. Many were momentous, but few affected men and women more closely than the bicycle and its motorized offspring: motorcycle, motor-car and aeroplane.—Eugen Weber
Eugen Weber
momentously
adverb
a momentously important decision
… a … twist that is executed differently from the comic book story, but is just as dramatically and momentously presented.
—The Philippines Daily Inquirer
The Philippines Daily Inquirer
momentousness
noun
But other East Europeans had little time to marvel at the momentousness of the moment. Just one day after the fall of the [Berlin] Wall, Bulgaria's dour leader of 35 years, Todor Zhivkov, was ousted.
—Stephen E. Deane
Stephen E. Deane
Examples of momentous in a Sentence
My college graduation was a momentous day in my life.
a momentous occasion that will go down in the history books
Recent Examples on the Web
This was a momentous development for child-care proponents such as myself, who have long argued that wide-reaching free programs are crucial for parents and for a healthy democracy.
—Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
The Post and Courier reported on this momentous occasion with an article that included a photo of Paddleford seated at the dining table along with the Huguenin family.
—Adrian Miller, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
After taking a fastball to the knee in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners, Springer hit a momentous go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of Game 7, propelling his team to the fall classic.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
And while Playboi Carti isn’t regarded as the same caliber of lyricist as the others, his I Am Music project is too momentous to ignore.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for momentous
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Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
The Post and Courier reported on this momentous occasion with an article that included a photo of Paddleford seated at the dining table along with the Huguenin family.
—Adrian Miller, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
After taking a fastball to the knee in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners, Springer hit a momentous go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of Game 7, propelling his team to the fall classic.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
And while Playboi Carti isn’t regarded as the same caliber of lyricist as the others, his I Am Music project is too momentous to ignore.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for momentous
Cite this Entry
“Momentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentous. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
momentous
adjective
mo·men·tous
mō-ˈment-əs
: very important
a momentous decision
momentously
adverb
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