moment

/ˈməʊmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈməʊmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmō-mənt/ (ame, mw)

moment — 名詞

  • momentsingular
  • momentsplural

1. a brief span that lasts only seconds or a few minutes — short enough that you ca

1.名詞A2
釋義

片刻；瞬間

極短的一段時間

a brief span that lasts only seconds or a few minutes — short enough that you can sense it passing as you wait.

例句

Bao waited a moment before answering his teacher's question.

Bao 等了一會兒，才回答老師的問題。

quantifier: a moment + before + verb-ing

Could you hold the door open for just a moment, please?

可以請你幫我開一下門嗎？只要一下子就好。

for just a moment — polite request

同義詞
  • instant

    even shorter than a moment, suggesting a single point in time with no measurable duration

  • second

    more informal and conversational than moment in everyday speech

  • minute

    can mean a short period but is slightly longer than a moment in practice

反義詞
  • age

    a very long period of time, opposite in scale

  • eternity

    a period that seems to last forever

文法句型

a moment

for a moment

moment + of + noun

用法筆記

Often used with quantifiers (a, one, a few) and prepositions (for, in, after). Can be modified by adjectives such as long, brief, or short.

常見錯誤

❌He arrived a moment ago.' (incorrectly using this when meaning 'a minute ago').
✅He arrived a moment ago.
💡This is actually correct for a very short time, but learners may overuse it for longer periods. Use 'a few minutes ago' for longer intervals.

2. a particular occasion or a specific time when something happens, is experienced,

2.名詞B1
釋義

時刻；時機

特定時間點或場合

a particular occasion or a specific time when something happens, is experienced, or matters to someone.

例句

Shoko would always remember the moment when she first held her baby sister.

Shoko 永遠記得她第一次抱到妹妹的那一刻。

the moment when [relative clause] — memorable occasion

The moment when Ryo first saw the ocean was unforgettable.

Ryo 第一次看見海洋的那一刻，令他永生難忘。

the moment when [relative clause]

同義詞
  • point

    more neutral and less emotional than moment; used in academic or technical contexts

  • occasion

    emphasises the event rather than the exact time

  • instant

    suggests a more precise, often shorter, point in time

文法句型

the moment when/that

a [adjective] moment

from that moment on

the moment of

用法筆記

Can be followed by a relative clause with when, that, or no linker (e.g., 'the moment she walked in'). Also used in possessive phrases such as 'the proudest moment of my life'.

常見錯誤

❌I will call you the moment when I will arrive.' (double tense).
✅I will call you the moment I arrive.
💡When the moment is used as a conjunction meaning 'as soon as', do not use 'when' and do not use future tense in the subordinate clause.

3. at this present time, now — used to describe what is happening or true right now

3.名詞A2
釋義

目前；現在

現在，當下

at this present time, now — used to describe what is happening or true right now, as you speak.

例句

Eli is at the library at the moment, so he cannot come to the phone.

Eli 此刻人在圖書館，所以他無法接電話。

at the moment with present continuous

We have no job openings at the moment, but please check again next month.

我們目前沒有職缺，但請下個月再來看看。

同義詞
  • currently

    more formal; used in written and professional contexts

  • right now

    more informal and emphatic than at the moment

文法句型

at the moment + present tense

at the moment + present continuous

用法筆記

Fixed phrase typically used in spoken English. In formal writing, 'currently' or 'at present' is preferred. British English uses this phrase more often than American English in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌At the moment, I have finished my homework.' (present perfect with at the moment).
✅At the moment, I am doing my homework.' or 'I have finished my homework.
💡Use present simple or present continuous with at the moment, not present perfect.

4. for a short period of time starting now, with the understanding that things may

4.名詞B2
釋義

暫時

現階段暫時如此，可能改變

for a short period of time starting now, with the understanding that things may change later — a way of describing a temporary situation or decision.

例句

For the moment, Nala is staying with her cousin while her apartment is being painted.

Nala 暫時住在表姐家，因為她的公寓正在油漆。

for the moment — temporary arrangement

Let us put that aside for the moment and move on to the next topic.

我們先把那件事擱在一邊，繼續討論下一個主題。

put [something] aside for the moment — postpone

同義詞
  • for now

    less formal, more common in everyday speech

  • temporarily

    more formal; focuses on the limited duration

反義詞
  • permanently

    opposite in intention — forever, not temporarily

文法句型

for the moment + present tense

leave/put something for the moment

用法筆記

Often interchangeable with 'for now' in casual speech. The contrast with 'at the moment' is important: 'at the moment' states a present fact, while 'for the moment' emphasises that the situation is not permanent.

常見錯誤

❌For the moment, I am a teacher.' (sounds temporary).
✅At the moment, I am a teacher.' or 'I work as a teacher.
💡Use for the moment only when you expect the situation to change.

5. at that precise instant — used in storytelling to mark the instant when a dramat

5.名詞B1
釋義

那時；當時

精確的那個時間點（常用於敘事）

at that precise instant — used in storytelling to mark the instant when a dramatic, important, or revealing event takes place, almost like a freeze-frame in a film.

例句

At that moment, the phone rang and everyone turned to look.

就在那一刻，電話響了，每個人都轉頭去看。

at that moment — narrative specific reference point

Just at that moment, the door swung open and Christopher walked into the room.

就在那一刻，門突然打開，Christopher 走進了房間。

just at that moment — narrative dramatic timing

同義詞
  • at that instant

    more precise and sudden; suggests an action without any delay

  • then

    simpler but less precise; does not carry the same dramatic weight

  • at that point

    slightly more detached and factual

文法句型

at that/this moment

at that very moment

just at that moment

用法筆記

Often used with 'just' or 'very' for emphasis. The past tense is the most common frame since this phrase typically appears in narratives about completed events.

6. great importance, influence, or significance — used in formal contexts to descri

6.名詞C1
釋義

重大；重要

非常重要或影響深遠

great importance, influence, or significance — used in formal contexts to describe something that matters a great deal or has lasting consequences.

例句

The discovery was a matter of great moment for the scientific community.

這項發現對科學界來說是一件非常重要的大事。

of great moment — formal expression of importance

The president's speech addressed issues of moment that affect every citizen.

總統的演說談到了影響每個公民的重大議題。

issues of moment — important matters

同義詞
  • significance

    the closest synonym; used in a wider range of structures

  • consequence

    similar formality, often paired with 'of' ('of little consequence')

  • weight

    more figurative, suggesting burden or gravity

反義詞

文法句型

of moment

of great/little moment

of no moment

用法筆記

Almost always used in the fixed phrases 'of moment', 'of great moment', or 'of little/no moment'. The bare noun in this sense does not appear outside these prepositional constructions. This is a formal, literary usage that is rare in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌This is a moment decision.' (using moment as an adjective).
✅This is a decision of great moment.
💡The noun moment in this sense always follows 'of' and is preceded by an adjective like great, little, or no.