Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense temps, present participle temping, past tense, past participle temped
1. countable noun
A temp is a person who is employed by an agency that sends them to work in different offices for short periods of time, for example to replace someone who is ill or on holiday.
2. verb [only cont]
If someone is temping, they are working as a temp.
Like so many aspiring actresses, she ended up waiting tables and temping in officejobs. [VERB]
Mrs Reynolds has been temping since losing her job. [VERB]
temp in British English
(tɛmp) informal
noun
1.
a person, esp an office worker, employed on a temporary basis
verb
2. (intransitive)
to work as a temp
temp. in British English
abbreviation for
1.
temperate
2.
temperature
3.
temporary
4.
tempore
Word origin
(for sense 4) Latin: in the time of
temp in American English1
(tɛmp)
Informal
noun
1.
temporary noun
verb intransitive
2.
to work as a temporary
temp in American English2
1.
temperature
2.
temporary
temp. in American English
Latin
in the time of
used in historical references
Word origin
L tempore
Examples of 'temp' in a sentence
temp
Fern at the local temp agency finally found me a position.
Christianity Today (2000)
You want it ice cold or room temp?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
My daughter did temp work for three weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The temp worker launched her campaign last week after being sent home for wearing flats.
The Sun (2016)
He offered me a job as a temp in his office.
The Sun (2010)
Leave to set for an hour at room temp.
The Sun (2014)
And some of the temp workers will receive permanent jobs.
The Sun (2009)
Bring to room temp before cooking.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
After she had us, she gave up her job and worked part time as a temp.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Recruitment consultants For me they represent the horror of temp work.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Last year 30 per cent of festive temps got permanent jobs with the retailers.
The Sun (2012)
The bargain chain urgently need 2,000 temp workers.
The Sun (2012)
His confidence was at an alltime low after years of doing temp jobs until a construction company hired him and he discovered learning.
The Sun (2010)
Place aside at room temp to set for 24 hours.
The Sun (2013)
I met my new partner when she did some temp work for my boss.
The Sun (2016)
IF you work as a temp for an agency, you are going to get more rights.
The Sun (2011)
This was awkward when I did temp work.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
IF you are struggling to get on to the job ladder, it could be time to temp.
The Sun (2010)
A tenth of its workforce are agency workers or temps, making them relatively easy to lay off.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That double whammy puts almost 2,000 full-time and temp jobs under threat.
The Sun (2011)
He initially did temp work to sustain his writing, and tried out as a stand-up comedian.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Instead, I look like one of the office junior temps.
The Sun (2006)
Perhaps you could also do some extra hours in your existing job, or contact a temp agency, who may be able to offer you weekend work.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
temp
British English: temp /tɛmp/ NOUN
A temp is a person who is employed by an agency that sends them to work in different offices for short periods of time, for example to replace someone who is ill or on holiday.
She began working for the company as a temp.
American English: temp
Arabic: عَامِلٌ مُؤَقَّت
Brazilian Portuguese: trabalhador temporário
Chinese: 临时雇员
Croatian: honorarni radnik
Czech: záskok pracovník
Danish: vikar
Dutch: uitzendkracht
European Spanish: empleado eventual
Finnish: tilapäistyöntekijä
French: intérimaire
German: Aushilfskraft
Greek: προσωρινός υπάλληλος
Italian: lavoratore interinale
Japanese: 臨時職員
Korean: 임시 고용
Norwegian: vikar
Polish: zastępca (tymczasowy)
European Portuguese: trabalhador temporário
Romanian: angajat temporar
Russian: временный работник
Latin American Spanish: empleado temporal
Swedish: vikarie
Thai: พนักงานชั่วคราว
Turkish: geçici görevli
Ukrainian: тимчасовий працівник
Vietnamese: nhân viên tạm thời
British English: temp VERB
If someone is temping, they are working as a temp.
Like so many aspiring actresses, she ended up waiting tables and temping in office jobs.