Meaning & use
temporary measure
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
An action or arrangement used for a limited time to deal with a problem until a permanent solution is found.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a temporary measure' or 'temporary measures'.
Patterns
- introduce a temporary measure
- take temporary measures
- a temporary measure to do something
- as a temporary measure
The city introduced a temporary measure to reduce traffic during the summer.
As a temporary measure, the company asked staff to work from home until the office reopened.
These temporary measures will be reviewed after six months.
nouncountable
A stopgap or short-term fix that is not meant to last.
Grammar: Often used with 'only' or 'just' to emphasize that it is not permanent.
Patterns
- only a temporary measure
- just a temporary measure
- a temporary measure until something happens
The extra charge is only a temporary measure; it will be removed next year.
We are using this room as a temporary measure until the new building is ready.
Word forms
| plural | temporary measures |
|---|
Common combinations
- introduce a temporary measure
- The government introduced a temporary measure to help small businesses.
- take temporary measures
- The school took temporary measures to keep the students safe.
- as a temporary measure
- As a temporary measure, we are using the old office.
- temporary measure to reduce something
- They agreed on a temporary measure to reduce costs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stopgap
- A stopgap is a quick, often less formal solution used until something better is available; 'temporary measure' is more neutral and common in official contexts.
- short-term solution
- This emphasizes the limited time frame and is often used in business writing; 'temporary measure' can sound slightly more official or governmental.
Opposites
Word family
- temporarily adverb
- For a limited time; e.g., 'The road is temporarily closed.'
- temporary adjective
- Lasting only for a short time; e.g., 'a temporary job'.
Commonly confused: temporary measure or temporal?
temporary measure vs temporal
Temporal means relating to time in general, not to something short-lived. A 'temporal measure' would be unusual and would refer to time in a technical sense.
Practice
The government introduced a ______ to help people during the crisis, but it will end next month.
Choose one answer.
The sentence says the action will end next month, so it is not permanent. 'Temporary measure' fits because it describes a short-term action. The other options all suggest something lasting or final, which contradicts 'will end next month'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “temporary measure”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.