moment

noun

mo·​ment ˈmō-mənt How to pronounce moment (audio)
1
a
: a minute portion or point of time : instant
a moment of dreadful suspenseGraham Greene
b
: a comparatively brief period of time
moments of solitude
2
a
: present time
at the moment she is at work on her fourth novelHoliday
b
: a time of excellence or conspicuousness
there's … some deliciously funny moments, but most of it is numbingly subtleJess Cagle
3
: importance in influence or effect
decisions of moment must be made by our governmentL. 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 centuryT. S. Eliot
6
a
: 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
7
a
: 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
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 The 2024 Oscars were largely devoid of shocking moments. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 The phone hacking scandal rocked Murdoch’s media empire more than a decade ago and marked one of the lowest moments in the billionaire’s career. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 Such moments were hard, Ridana said, but Gazal cried less about her leg than about her father and brother. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024 If anything, the distinct moments Hawkins created pushed the barometer, Fantasia wasn’t just seen as an actress. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024 Officers arrived moments later to find both men unresponsive, Green said. Jason Green, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 Yet another United flight was forced to make an emergency landing when a tire fell off the plane moments after takeoff. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 The real split-screen moment of their border speeches offered a chance for voters to directly compare their immigration policies. Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 With intimate moments, archival footage, and insights into her relationships and ties to power and fame, this production provides a revealing glimpse into Bozzo’s journey. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'moment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin momentum movement, particle sufficient to turn the scales, moment, from movēre to move

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of moment was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near moment

Cite this Entry

“Moment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moment. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

moment

noun
mo·​ment ˈmō-mənt How to pronounce moment (audio)
1
: a brief portion of time : instant
2
a
: present time
at the moment she is working on a novel
b
: a time of importance or success
he has his moments
3
: importance, consequence
an event of great moment

More from Merriam-Webster on moment

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