Momentary
ˈməʊməntəri
Definitions
Lasting for a very short time; fleeting.
ˈməʊməntəri
Lasting for only a very short time; brief.
She felt a momentary pang of sadness.
💡 Simply: It's like when you see a shooting star—it's there for a tiny bit of time and then it's gone! "Momentary" means something that only lasts for a little while.
👶 For kids: Something that only lasts a tiny bit of time.
More Examples
The lights flickered with a momentary power outage.
His momentary hesitation gave his opponent the advantage.
The sudden noise caused a momentary distraction.
How It's Used
"A momentary lapse in concentration."
"The story captures the momentary joy and profound sorrow of human life."
From the Latin word 'momentum', meaning 'movement' or 'importance'. The suffix '-ary' indicates 'relating to or characterized by'.
The word 'momentary' has been used since the late 16th century, evolving from its association with brief duration.
Memory tip
Think of a moment that passes quickly. The word 'momentary' describes something of that short duration.
Word Origin
"movement, importance"