4 syllables: mo, ment, ar, y. Stress on mo.
/ˈmoʊməˌntɛɹi/
Say it backMomentary describes something lasting for a very brief time; it is typically used to denote a fleeting occurrence or impression. It implies transience and emphasizes the temporary nature of an event, feeling, or state. In usage, it often contrasts with lasting or permanent, highlighting a short duration or ephemeral quality.
"The momentary pause in the music gave the singer a chance to breathe."
"She felt a momentary pang of guilt before shaking it off and continuing."
"The crowd erupted in cheers after a momentary delay in the game."
Say it as MO-ment-ary with primary stress on MO. IPA US/UK: /ˈmoʊ.mənˌtɛr.i/ or /ˈməʊ.mənˌtɛr.i/. The middle syllable is unstressed and may reduce to a schwa; the final 'ary' is pronounced as -er-ee, with a light, quick -ri.
People often misplace the stress, saying mo-MEN-tary or MO-men-tary inconsistently. Another error is over-pronouncing the second syllable or merging 't' and 'r' into a smear. To correct: keep first syllable stressed, lightly articulate the /t/ before /er/, and avoid a strong vowel in the second syllable; end with a crisp /i/.
In US English, /ˈmoʊ.mənˌtɛr.i/ with a clear /oʊ/ and rhotic /ɹ/ in 'tair' syllable; UK often uses /ˈməʊ.mən.təri/ with reduced second vowel and non-rhotic /t/, and AU follows US patterns but with a more centralized final vowel, sometimes tipping towards /-təri/.
The difficulty lies in maintaining three syllables with correct stress: strong initial stress on the first syllable, a reduced middle syllable, and a light, unstressed final syllable. The /t/ before /r/ can blur in rapid speech, and the /ə/ (schwa) in the middle requires careful reduction without losing clarity.
The blend from the rhotic /r/ into the final /i/ in many American and Australian varieties can create a soft transition: /ˈmoʊ.mənˌtɛr.i/ vs /ˈməʊ.mən.təri/. Paying attention to the alveolar stop /t/ before /r/ helps avoid contamination of the /t/ and /r/ sounds.
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Momentary comes from the late Latin momentarius, meaning ‘pertaining to a moment; of the moment.’ The root is Latin moment- from m-om- ‘to move,’ related to the verb mov- ‘to move’ (root also seen in moment, momentum). The suffix -ary forms adjectives indicating a relation or belonging. The sense evolution tracks from “pertaining to a moment” in classical usage to “lasting only a moment” in the Renaissance, eventually narrowing to the English adjective meaning “lasting for a very short time.” First attested in English in the early modern period, momentary appeared in medical and legal contexts before becoming common in general usage to describe brief intervals or fleeting experiences.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "momentary" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "momentary" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "momentary"
-ary sounds
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