moment

noun

mo·​ment ˈmō-mənt 

1

a

: a minute portion or point of time : instant

a moment of dreadful suspense

—Graham Greene

b

: a comparatively brief period of time

moments of solitude

2

a

: present time

at the moment she is at work on her fourth novel

—Holiday

b

: a time of excellence or conspicuousness

there's … some deliciously funny moments, but most of it is numbingly subtle

—Jess Cagle

3

: importance in influence or effect

decisions of moment must be made by our government

—L. H. Evans

4

obsolete : a cause or motive of action

5

: a stage in historical or logical development

a document of one moment in the history of thought and sensibility in the nineteenth century

—T. S. Eliot

6

a

: tendency or measure of tendency to produce motion especially about a point or axis

b

: the product of quantity (such as a force) and the distance to a particular axis or point

7

a

: the mean (see mean entry 4 sense 1b) of the nth powers of the deviations (see deviation sense b) of the observed values in a set of statistical data from a fixed value

b

: the expected value of a power of the deviation (see deviation sense b) of a random variable from a fixed value

Synonyms

• occasion
• time

Choose the Right Synonym for moment

importance, consequence, moment, weight, significance mean a quality or aspect having great worth or significance.

importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

Examples of moment in a Sentence

The sun was shining. Moments later, it began to rain.

It was a moment before she realized what had happened.

She stopped for a moment and peeked into the window.

It should only take a moment to fix the problem.

I'm very busy and I don't have a moment to spare.

One moment it was sunny; the next it was pouring rain.

The moment for us to act has arrived.

War seemed unavoidable at that moment in history.

She knew exactly the right moment to ask for a raise.

We had an exciting vacation. There was never a dull moment.

Recent Examples on the Web

The idea is that the scent will get the buck to stop for a moment, but not get spooked. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 6 Nov. 2024

One game, one moment (at Baltimore) doesn’t define us. —Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024

Chromatica, her 2020 album that represented a return to unabashedly hooky electro-pop, was released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, and acted as a balm for pop fans during a difficult moment in the world. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024

The nature walk was a poignant moment in the heir to the British throne's ongoing environmental campaign, bringing attention to the work of conservation rangers who patrol the urban national park. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin momentum movement, particle sufficient to turn the scales, moment, from movēre to move

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing moment

• aha moment
• as of this moment
• at a moment's/minute's notice
• (at) any moment (now)
• at the moment
• at this moment
• at this very moment
• come to Jesus moment
• day/moment/time in the sun
• defining moment
• dipole moment
• from moment to moment
• from one moment to the next
• have a minute/moment/second
• hold/hang on a moment
• in a moment
• just a minute/second/moment
• magnetic moment
• mic-drop moment
• moment by moment
• moment of clarity
• moment of inertia
• moment of silence
• moment of truth
• never a dull moment
• never for one moment
• not a moment too soon
• not for a/one moment
• of moment
• on a moment's/minute's notice
• on the spur of the moment
• psychological moment
• senior moment
• spur-of-the-moment
• teachable moment
• the last moment
• the moment
• wait a minute/moment/second
• wait/just a moment
• waking hour/moment
• weak moment

Kids Definition

moment

noun

mo·​ment ˈmō-mənt 

1

: a brief portion of time : instant

2

a

: present time

at the moment she is working on a novel

b

: a time of importance or success

he has his moments

3

: importance, consequence

an event of great moment