momentarily
Americanadverb
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for a moment; briefly.
to pause momentarily.
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at any moment; imminently.
expected to occur momentarily.
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Now Rare. instantly.
adverb
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for an instant; temporarily
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from moment to moment; every instant
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very soon
Etymology
Origin of momentarily
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However, at least momentarily, it’s still lower than the levels reached in June of 2022, when average gas prices topped $5.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026
Already, the price of Brent crude has momentarily jumped to its highest level since July 2024.
From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026
"Old age should burn and rage at close of day," she quotes Dylan Thomas, momentarily sounding like the teacher she once was.
From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026
I’m momentarily reminded of the daughter of a British greengrocer, Margaret Thatcher, who, early in her political career, established her economic credentials by the simple expedient of knowing the price of butter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
Irela wriggled momentarily, then pointed to the boy in the picture and said, “Pay attention. His shirt is white.”
From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
