momentary
momentary
Definition
mo·men·tary (mō′mən ter′ē)
adjective
- lasting for only a moment; passing; transitory
- recurring every moment; constant
- likely to occur at any moment
Etymology: L momentarius
mo′·men·tar′i·ness noun
momentary
Synonyms
momentary
modif.
Antonyms
momentary
Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- lapse: We could not guess Nelson's momentary lapse from the tone of Mouth of the Nile.
- lull: I only heard it because there had been a momentary lull in the barrage from the big guns.
- glimpse: There was a momentary glimpse of an elegant steam yacht cutting past.
- pause: Taking a momentary pause just to make sure, I hurl myself into the waiting water.
- discomfort: There was a momentary discomfort on penetrating the surface tension of the sub-space artifact.
- panic: Barbara's momentary panic on parting from Beth is shortened.
Modifying Another Word
- but: Life is but momentary, whether you have the poverty of the poorest man in rags or the wealth of the richest living person.
- only: Of course, the good news is only momentary.
- even: Be careful not to make even momentary short circuits with metal tools.
- merely: After all it might be only a chance look, or at best the token of a merely momentary impression.
- either: The remote function can be configured to be either momentary or latched.
- not: Draper offers the opinion that such incidents are not momentary slips on Trotsky's part.
