Moment

/ˈmoʊ.mənt/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A very brief period of time.
Please hold on for a moment while I check the information.
A particular point in time, often significant or important.
She was waiting for the right moment to make her announcement.
A significant event or development.
Winning the championship was a defining moment in his career.
A differing amount of time associated with a specific measurement, such as a moment of inertia in physics.
The engineers calculated the moment of force acting on the structure.

Etymology

Late Middle English: from Latin 'momentum', meaning 'movement, motion, or importance'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

at the moment
Currently or at this time.
moment of truth
A critical time when a decision must be made.
momentum
The force or speed of movement.
make a moment
To create a memorable experience.
frozen moment
A moment captured in time, often in a photograph.

Related Words

instant
A very brief moment of time.
duration
The length of time that something continues.
time
The indefinite continued progress of existence and events.
event
An occurrence, particularly one of significance.
epoch
A significant period in history or a person's life.

Slang Meanings

A fleeting time
That was a moment to remember!
A chance to shine
She took her moment on stage and owned it.