momentarily

adverb

mo·​men·​tar·​i·​ly ˌmō-mən-ˈter-ə-lē 

1

: for a moment

2

archaic : instantly

3

: at any moment : in a moment

Synonyms

• anon
• before long
• by and by
• directly
• presently
• shortly
• soon

Examples of momentarily in a Sentence

The wind let up momentarily, allowing us to start a campfire.

He paused momentarily before finishing his speech.

We expect them to arrive momentarily.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those odds dropped slowly with each game Ovechkin missed due to a fractured left fibula until all progress from his hot streak was momentarily erased. —Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 6 Mar. 2025

Al Green causes ruckus early on Trump was momentarily stalled at the outset of his address, when Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, refused to sit down, despite warnings from House Speaker Mike Johnson. —Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025

Moreover, by suspending all U.S. global aid, the Trump administration had momentarily removed a potential lever. —Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025

So far, these little goofs include, but are not limited to, momentarily laying off people who oversee the nuclear-weapons stockpile and cancelling Ebola-prevention measures. —David Remnick, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for momentarily

• arbitrarily
• customarily
• militarily
• necessarily
• ordinarily
• secondarily
• temporarily
• voluntarily
• airily
• caroli
• merrily
• verily

Kids Definition

momentarily

adverb

mo·​men·​tari·​ly

ˌmō-mən-ˈter-ə-lē

1

: for a moment

the pain eased momentarily

2

archaic : instantly

3

: at any moment

we expect them momentarily