momentary

adjective

mo·men·tary ˈmō-mən-ˌter-ē

Synonyms of momentary next

: continuing only a moment : fleeting

: having a very brief life

: 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 Even the momentary solace of a cigarette is all but out of reach. —

Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024 Harry Kane had opened the scoring in the 18th minute after Danish defender Victor Kristiansen had a momentary lapse in concentration, allowing Kyle Walker to run through and set up the England captain. —

Ben Church, CNN, 20 June 2024 Austin Riley was walked, a momentary reprieve to the homer-fest. —

Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024 There have been momentary dips in obesity before, while the long-term trend has stayed stubbornly upward. —

Bryan Walsh, Vox, 3 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for momentary

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

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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Momentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentary. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

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Kids Definition

momentary

adjective

mo·men·tary ˈmō-mən-ˌter-ē

: lasting only a moment

Last Updated: 5 Jul 2024 - Updated example sentences

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momentary

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of momentary in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near momentary

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition