moments

IPA/ˈməʊ.mənt/
KK[mˈomənts]IPA/ˈmoʊ.mənt/

moments — noun

  • momentssingular
  • momentsesplural

1. an extremely short amount of time, usually just a few seconds or less

1.nounA2
Definition

an extremely short amount of time, usually just a few seconds or less

Example

Joshua waited a moment before knocking on the hospital door.

a moment = a very short pause

During the quake, the ground shook for a few moments and then went still.

Common collocations
  • a moment
  • just a moment
  • a few moments
  • wait a moment
  • at any moment
  • a long moment
Synonyms
  • instant

    even shorter than a moment; feels more sudden

  • second

    informal way to mean a very short time, not exactly one second

  • jiffy

    very informal; used mainly in spoken English

Grammar Patterns

a moment

a few moments

in just a moment

2. a particular occasion or point in time when something happens, especially one th

2.nounB1
Definition

a particular occasion or point in time when something happens, especially one that stands out as important, memorable, or just right for doing something

Example

Mira chose the perfect moment to tell her parents the good news.

the perfect moment + to-infinitive

For Hamza, the best moment of the trip was watching the sun rise over the mountains.

Common collocations
  • the perfect moment
  • the best/worst moment
  • the last moment
  • choose your moment
  • the moment (that)
Synonyms
  • occasion

    more formal; often used for planned events

  • time

    broader and more general than moment

  • point

    more abstract; emphasises the exact position in a timeline

Grammar Patterns

the moment (that)

the best/worst moment

choose your moment

Common Mistakes

At the moment I saw her, I knew.
The moment I saw her, I knew.
Use 'the moment' (not 'at the moment') to mean 'as soon as.'

3. the present time; used in 'at the moment' to talk about what is true or happenin

3.nounA2
Definition

the present time; used in 'at the moment' to talk about what is true or happening now

Example

At the moment, Mayumi is staying with her aunt in Osaka.

at the moment = currently, right now

The noodle shop on Maple Street is closed at the moment but will reopen next Monday.

Common collocations
  • at the moment
Synonyms
  • currently

    slightly more formal than 'at the moment'

  • now

    simpler and more direct; can feel more abrupt

  • presently

    formal; more common in written English

Grammar Patterns

at the moment

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 5: 'at the moment' describes a general current state, while 'at this/that moment' (sense 5) points to a single precise instant.

Common Mistakes

In the moment, I am studying for exams.
At the moment, I am studying for exams.
The correct phrase for 'now' is 'at the moment,' not 'in the moment.'

4. used in the phrase 'for the moment' to say that something is true now but will p

4.nounB2
Definition

used in the phrase 'for the moment' to say that something is true now but will probably change later

Example

For the moment, Nora is content living in her small rented flat.

for the moment = temporarily, for now

The children are quiet for the moment, but that will not last long.

Common collocations
  • for the moment
Synonyms
  • temporarily

    more formal; used as an adverb, not a set phrase

  • for now

    less formal than 'for the moment'; same meaning

  • provisionally

    formal; suggests an arrangement is not final

Grammar Patterns

for the moment

Usage Note

'For the moment' always suggests the situation may change. Compare with 'at the moment' (sense 3), which simply describes the present state without implying change.

5. a precise instant, used with 'this' or 'that' to point to the very second someth

5.nounB1
Definition

a precise instant, used with 'this' or 'that' to point to the very second something happens — often something sudden or unexpected

Example

At that moment, a loud crash echoed from the empty kitchen.

at that moment = right then, at that exact instant

Brandon froze at that moment, completely unsure what to say next.

Common collocations
  • at this moment
  • at that moment
  • at that very moment
  • at this moment in time
Synonyms
  • instant

    emphasises the suddenness or exactness of the point in time

  • second

    informal; 'at that second' can replace 'at that moment'

Grammar Patterns

at this moment

at that moment

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 3: 'at this/that moment' marks a precise point when something happens, while 'at the moment' (sense 3) describes a broader ongoing state.

6. importance or significance; used almost always in the phrase 'of (great/little)

6.nounC1
Definition

importance or significance; used almost always in the phrase 'of (great/little) moment' to say how much something matters

Example

The village council met to discuss a matter of great moment.

of great moment = very important

His personal views were of little moment to the judge's final decision.

Common collocations
  • of great moment
  • of little moment
  • of no moment
  • a matter of moment
Synonyms
  • importance

    much more common; the everyday word for this meaning

  • significance

    neutral; can refer to meaning as well as importance

  • consequence

    emphasises the results or effects of something

  • weight

    suggests seriousness and influence, as in 'a matter of great weight'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

of great moment

of little moment

Usage Note

Formal and somewhat old-fashioned. Almost always used in the phrase 'of (great/little) moment.' Do not confuse with sense 1 (a short time).

Common Mistakes

a decision of great importance moment
a decision of great moment
'Of great moment' already means 'of great importance'; using both is redundant.

7. in physics and engineering, a force that makes something turn around a fixed poi

7.nounC2
Definition

in physics and engineering, a force that makes something turn around a fixed point, or the measurement of that turning effect

Example

Before the bridge was built, the engineer calculated the bending moment on each steel support beam.

bending moment (technical term in structural engineering)

To turn the heavy flywheel by hand, a larger moment is needed than one person can provide.

Common collocations
  • bending moment
  • moment of a force
  • turning moment
  • overturning moment
Synonyms
  • torque

    more common in engineering and mechanics; means the same thing

  • turning force

    plain-English equivalent; easier for non-specialists to understand

Grammar Patterns

moment of a force

bending moment

Usage Note

A technical term used in physics and engineering. Not used in everyday conversation. The everyday equivalent is 'turning force' or 'torque.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Moment, instant, second, jiffy, and minute all describe very short periods of time, but they differ in precision and tone. A moment is the most neutral and flexible — it can last a few seconds or a little longer ('Wait a moment'). An instant feels even shorter and more sudden, often suggesting something happens in a flash ('In an instant, the vase shattered'). Second and minute are informal; they borrow from clock measurements but don't mean exactly one second or sixty seconds ('Give me a second'). Jiffy is the most casual and is almost never used in writing ('I'll be there in a jiffy'). Minute, like second, is an exaggerated borrowing from clock time that actually means a short while ('Hang on a minute'). For everyday speech, moment is the safest choice across all situations.

instant ↗second ↗jiffyminute ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • just a moment
  • only a moment

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from the Latin word momentum, meaning 'movement' or 'motion,' which itself comes from the verb movēre ('to move'). The original Latin idea was of a particle so small it could tip a scale — a tiny weight that could change the balance. This image of something small but decisive gave English two separate strands of meaning: the 'short time' sense (a tiny slice of time) and the 'importance' sense (something with enough weight to matter). The word entered English through Old French in the 14th century.

First known use

14th century

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