moment

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A very short stretch of time.

   Grammar: Often used with a: wait a moment; in a moment.

   Patterns

   • wait a moment
   • in a moment
   • for a moment

   Wait a moment while I find my keys.

   She paused for a moment before answering.

   I'll be with you in a moment.

2. 2nouncountable

   A particular point in time when something happens.

   Grammar: Often used with the or this: at that moment.

   Patterns

   • at the moment
   • at that moment
   • the moment someone arrives

   At that moment, the lights went out.

   He remembers the exact moment he heard the news.

   I knew the moment I saw the house that I wanted it.

3. 3nouncountable

   A time that is special or important, or the present time.

   Grammar: Often used with an adjective: a proud moment.

   Patterns

   • a moment of something
   • at the moment

   Graduation was a proud moment for the whole family.

   I'm busy at the moment, so call me later.

   The speech was a moment of real honesty.

4. 4nouncountablephysicstechnical

   In physics, the turning effect of a force around a point, equal to force multiplied by distance.

   Grammar: A technical sense used in mechanics, usually with a force or a point.

   Patterns

   • the moment of a force

   The moment of the force about the hinge was measured.

   Students calculate the moment of a weight on a seesaw.

Word forms

Common combinations

at the moment

We are not hiring at the moment.

for a moment

He stopped for a moment to catch his breath.

a moment of silence

The class observed a moment of silence.

in a moment

The kettle will boil in a moment.

the last moment

They changed the plan at the last moment.

a magical moment

Seeing the snow was a magical moment for the children.

Synonyms and how they differ

instant

Instant stresses an extremely short, exact point in time, while moment can be slightly longer.

second

Second is a measured unit of time, whereas moment is looser and not exact.

minute

Minute often just means a short wait, but moment can also mean a special occasion.

occasion

Occasion refers to a particular event, while moment points to a brief point in time.

Opposites

Word family

momentary adjective

lasting for a very short time

momentarily adverb

for a very short time, or very soon in US English

momentous adjective

very important

momentum noun

the force a moving object has, or the speed of progress

Commonly confused: moment or momentum? moment or momentous?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “moment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words