momentous

adjective

mo·​men·​tous mō-ˈmen-təs How to pronounce momentous (audio)
mə-
: having great or lasting importance : consequential, significant
a momentous decision
a momentous event/occasion
The Senate begins a momentous debate on health care today …The New York Times
Deydey usually talked about his travels, the places he'd seen and the people, the close calls and momentous encounters with animals, weather, other Anishinabeg, and best of all, ghosts.Louise Erdrich
The late nineteenth century was strewn with inventions. Many were momentous, but few affected men and women more closely than the bicycle and its motorized offspring: motorcycle, motor-car and aeroplane.Eugen Weber
momentously adverb
a momentously important decision
… a … twist that is executed differently from the comic book story, but is just as dramatically and momentously presented. The Philippines Daily Inquirer
momentousness noun
But other East Europeans had little time to marvel at the momentousness of the moment. Just one day after the fall of the [Berlin] Wall, Bulgaria's dour leader of 35 years, Todor Zhivkov, was ousted. Stephen E. Deane

Examples of momentous in a Sentence

My college graduation was a momentous day in my life. a momentous occasion that will go down in the history books
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As the panelists jockeyed to explain the momentous development in this cavernous studio that was quiet as all hell, the scene had the feel of a strange stage play. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024 On Tuesday, Florida residents face a momentous decision —whether to vote yes or no on Amendment 4. Allison Mashell Mitchell / Made By History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024 The Weeknd publicly joined the hordes of music lovers mourning the momentous loss of Quincy Jones. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024 One of the closest, most surprising and momentous presidential elections in recent memory has broadcast and cable networks preparing for the unexpected for its finale: election night. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for momentous 

Word History

First Known Use

1631, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of momentous was in 1631

Dictionary Entries Near momentous

Cite this Entry

“Momentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentous. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

momentous

adjective
mo·​men·​tous mō-ˈment-əs How to pronounce momentous (audio)
: very important
a momentous decision
momentously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on momentous

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