You can refer to a very short period of time, for example a few seconds, as a moment or moments.
In a moment he was gone.
She stared at him a moment, then turned away.
Stop for one moment and think about it!
In moments, I was asleep once more.
Synonyms: instant, second, minute, flash More Synonyms of moment
2. countable noun
A particular moment is the point in time at which something happens.
At this moment a car stopped at the house.
I'll never forget the moment when I first saw it.
...a decision that may have been made in a moment of panic.
Synonyms: time, point, stage, instant More Synonyms of moment
3.
See (at) any moment (now)
4.
See at the/this moment/present moment
5.
See for a/one moment
6.
See for the moment
7.
See have one's moments
8.
See be having a moment
9.
See the last moment
10.
See the next moment
11.
See of the moment
12.
See the moment
13. spur of the moment
More Synonyms of moment
moment in British English
(ˈməʊmənt)
noun
1.
a short indefinite period of time
he'll be here in a moment
2.
a specific instant or point in time
at that moment the doorbell rang
3. the moment
4.
import, significance, or value
a man of moment
5. physics
a.
a tendency to produce motion, esp rotation about a point or axis
b.
the product of a physical quantity, such as force or mass, and its distance from a fixed reference point
See also moment of inertia
6. statistics
the mean of a specified power of the deviations of all the values of a variable in its frequency distribution. The power of the deviations indicates the order of the moment and the deviations may be from the origin (giving a moment about the origin) or from the mean (giving a moment about the mean)
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin mōmentum, from movēre to move
moment in American English
(ˈmoʊmənt)
noun
1.
an indefinitely brief period of time; instant
2.
a definite point in time or in a series of events
3.
a brief time of being important or outstanding
4.
importance; consequence
news of great moment
5. Mechanics
the product of some physical quantity and its distance from the origin of coordinates or an axis, as a torque
6. Philosophy
any constituent element of a complex entity or process
SIMILAR WORDS: imˈportance
Idioms:
the moment
Word origin
ME < L momentum, movement, impulse, brief space of time, importance < *movimentum < movere, to move
moment in Mechanical Engineering
(moʊmənt)
Word forms: (regular plural) moments
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Mechanics and dynamics)
A moment is the ability of a force to turn, twist, or bend. It is equal to the force multiplied by the distance from the center of twisting, turning, or bending.
Using a long-handled wrench allows a greater moment to be applied to the nut.
Torque is the moment of force which tends to twist a structure.
A moment is the ability of a force to turn, twist, or bend. It is equal to the force multipliedby the distance from the center of twisting, turning, or bending.
bending moment, moment of inertia
More idioms containing
moment
in the heat of the moment
do something on the spur of the moment
COBUILD Collocations
moment
brief moment
capture a moment
crucial moment
defining moment
key moment
memorable moment
pivotal moment
rare moment
watershed moment
Examples of 'moment' in a sentence
moment
The fans saw until the last moment we tried to win.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The two said that they would have walked away the moment anyone felt uncomfortable about their deception.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They wait for one moment and they got that moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
At this moment in time he has lost the ability to win football matches.
The Sun (2016)
The court had previously been told that the stabbings happened within moments of each other.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her rivals should not wait until the last moment to suggest alternatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sometimes you can lose the match in one moment.
The Sun (2016)
We had the luck to make a chance at the last moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It only takes a moment for the point to be made.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your moment may come sooner than you know.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
Many moments will have you seriously scratching your head.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Was it all about to be thrown away in a moment?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
For one moment she dropped her mask and the clawing agony was plain to see.
Christina Dodd SOMEDAY MY PRINCE (1999)
You just wait for that moment in which something happens.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We are not convinced that this is happening at the moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You will have moments of absolute panic but you will ride through them.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This does not mean for a moment that he became any less divine.
Christianity Today (2000)
The moment had lasted no more than three seconds.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
All my postwar generation can point to moments of change.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We cannot say what it is at the moment but it may be a very significant clue.
The Sun (2015)
Their museums and memories are moments away.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In that moment something exceptional was evident.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Look what is happening at the moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This kind of love is built of the bricks of a hundred small memories and moments in time.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They aren't some iconic moment when time stops.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quotations
in the twinkling of an eyeBible: I Corinthians
In other languages
moment
British English: moment /ˈməʊmənt/ NOUN
A moment is a very short period of time.
She stared at him a moment, then turned away.
American English: moment
Arabic: لَـحْظَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: momento
Chinese: 瞬间
Croatian: trenutak
Czech: okamžik
Danish: øjeblik
Dutch: moment
European Spanish: momento
Finnish: hetki
French: moment
German: Augenblick
Greek: στιγμή
Italian: momento
Japanese: 瞬間
Korean: 순간
Norwegian: øyeblikk
Polish: chwila
European Portuguese: momento
Romanian: moment
Russian: момент
Latin American Spanish: momento
Swedish: stund
Thai: ชั่วขณะ
Turkish: an
Ukrainian: момент
Vietnamese: chốc lát
Chinese translation of 'moment'
moment
(ˈməumənt)
n
(c) (= period of time) 片刻 (piànkè)
⇒ It lasted only a moment.只持续了片刻。 (Zhǐ chíxùle piànkè.)
(c) (= point in time) 瞬间(間) (shùnjiān)
⇒ That was the moment I understood.在那一瞬间我明白了。 (Zài nà yīshùnjiān wǒ míngbai le.)
(u) (frm, = importance) 重要 (zhòngyào)
⇒ a matter of the greatest moment最重要的一件事 (zuì zhòngyào de yī jiàn shì)
for a or one moment (showing disbelief) 一刻 (yīkè)
⇒ I don't for a moment think there'll be a divorce.我一刻都没想过会离婚。 (Wǒ yīkè dōu méi xiǎngguo huì líhūn.)
(showing relief) 有那么(麼)一刻 (yǒu nàme yīkè)
⇒ For a moment I thought he wasn't going to make it.有那么一刻我还以为他不会来了。 (Yǒu nàme yīkè wǒ hái yǐwéi tā bù huì lái le.)
(= briefly) 一会(會)儿(兒) (yīhuìr)
⇒ She stared at him for a moment, then turned away.她盯着他看了一会儿，然后转过身。 (Tā dīngzhe tā kànle yīhuìr, ránhòu zhuǎnguo shēn.)
for the moment暂(暫)时(時) (zànshí)
in a moment (explaining when) 马(馬)上 (mǎshàng) (explaining duration) 一瞬间(間) (yīshùnjiān)
one moment, please (on the telephone) 请(請)稍等 (qǐng shāoděng)
the moment (that) ... 一 ... ，就 ... (yī ... , jiù ... )
at that moment当(當)时(時) (dāngshí)
at the/this (present) moment此刻/当(當)前 (cǐkè/dāngqián)
(at) any moment (now)随(隨)时(時) (suíshí)
at the last moment在最后(後)一刻 (zài zuìhòu yīkè)
All related terms of 'moment'
in a moment
( explaining when ) 马(馬)上 mǎshàng
at that moment
当(當)时(時) dāngshí
for the moment
暂(暫)时(時) zànshí
moment of glory
光荣(榮)时(時)刻 guāngróng shíkè
one moment, please
( on the telephone ) 请(請)稍等 qǐng shāoděng
at the last moment
在最后(後)一刻 zài zuìhòu yīkè
for a or one moment
( showing disbelief ) 一刻 yīkè ⇒ I don't for a moment think there'll be a divorce. → 我一刻都没想过会离婚。 Wǒ yīkè dōu méi xiǎngguo huì líhūn.
any day/moment/time now
不日/随(隨)时(時)/任何时(時)候 bùrì/suíshí/rènhé shíhou
in the heat of the moment
一时(時)激动(動)之下 yīshí jīdòng zhī xià
on the spur of the moment
一时(時)冲(衝)动(動)之下 yīshí chōngdòng zhī xià
just a minute, just one moment
( asking someone to wait ) 等一下 děng yīxià
Mr Green is out at the moment
格林先生这(這)会(會)儿(兒)不在 Gélín xiānsheng zhèhùir bù zài
(at) any moment
(在)任何时(時)候 (zài) rènhé shíhou
(at) any moment (now)
随(隨)时(時) suíshí
the moment (that) ...
一 ... ，就 ... yī ... , jiù ...
at the/this (present) moment
此刻/当(當)前 cǐkè/dāngqián
1 (noun)
Definition
a short period of time
In a moment he was gone.
Synonyms
instant
The pain disappeared in an instant.
second
For a few seconds nobody said anything.
minute
I'll be with you in a minute.
flash
shake (informal)
tick (British, informal)
I'll be back in a tick.
no time
twinkling
And then in a twinkling all vanished away.
split second
jiffy (informal)
I'll have this truck fixed in a jiffy.
trice
She was back in a trice.
two shakes (informal)
two shakes of a lamb's tail (informal)
bat of an eye (informal)
2 (noun)
Definition
a specific instant or point in time
At this moment a car stopped outside the house.
Synonyms
time
It seemed like a good time to tell her.
point
At this point, Diana arrived.
stage
the final stage of the tour
instant
At the same instant, she flung open the car door.
point in time
hour
juncture
We're at a critical juncture.
3 (noun)
Definition
importance, significance, or value
I was glad I had nothing of great moment to do that afternoon.
Synonyms
importance
Safety is of paramount importance.
concern
The survey's findings are a matter of great concern.
value
Studies are needed to see if these therapies have any value.
worth
Her boss did not appreciate her true worth until she quit.
weight
That argument no longer carries much weight.
import (formal)
Such arguments are of little import.
consequence
This question is of little consequence.
substance
It is questionable whether anything of substance has been achieved.
significance
ideas about the social significance of religion
gravity
You don't seem to appreciate the gravity of this situation.
seriousness
the seriousness of the crisis
weightiness
Quotation
in the twinkling of an eye [Bible: I Corinthians]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of concern
Definition
regard or interest
The survey's findings are a matter of great concern.
Synonyms
importance,
interest,
bearing,
relevance
in the sense of consequence
Definition
significance or importance
This question is of little consequence.
Synonyms
importance,
interest,
concern,
moment,
value,
account,
note,
weight,
import (formal),
significance,
portent
in the sense of gravity
Definition
seriousness or importance
You don't seem to appreciate the gravity of this situation.
Synonyms
seriousness,
importance,
consequence,
significance,
urgency,
severity,
acuteness,
moment,
weightiness,
momentousness,
perilousness,
hazardousness
Synonyms of 'moment'
moment
Explore 'moment' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of import
Definition
importance
Such arguments are of little import.
Synonyms
significance,
concern,
value,
worth,
weight,
consequence,
substance,
moment,
magnitude,
usefulness,
momentousness
in the sense of jiffy
Definition
a very short time
I'll have this truck fixed in a jiffy.
Synonyms
moment,
second,
flash,
instant,
twinkling,
split second,
trice,
bat of an eye (informal)
in the sense of juncture
Definition
a point in time, esp. a critical one
We're at a critical juncture.
Synonyms
moment,
time,
point,
crisis,
occasion,
emergency,
strait,
contingency,
predicament,
crux,
exigency,
conjuncture
in the sense of minute
Definition
any very short period of time
I'll be with you in a minute.
Synonyms
moment,
second,
bit,
shake (informal),
flash,
instant,
tick (British, informal),
sec (informal),
short time,
little while,
jiffy (informal),
trice
in the sense of point
Definition
a moment
At this point, Diana arrived.
Synonyms
moment,
time,
stage,
period,
phase,
instant,
juncture,
moment in time,
very minute
in the sense of second
Definition
a very short period of time
For a few seconds nobody said anything.
Synonyms
moment,
minute,
instant,
flash,
tick (British, informal),
sec (informal),
twinkling,
split second,
jiffy (informal),
trice,
twinkling of an eye,
two shakes of a lamb's tail (informal),
bat of an eye (informal),
SEC
in the sense of seriousness
the seriousness of the crisis
Synonyms
importance,
gravity,
urgency,
moment,
weight,
danger,
significance
in the sense of shake
Definition
a very short period of time
Synonyms
moment,
second,
instant,
tick (British, informal),
jiffy (informal),
trice
in the sense of significance
Definition
the effect something is likely to have on other things
ideas about the social significance of religion
Synonyms
importance,
import (formal),
consequence,
matter,
moment,
weight,
consideration,
gravity,
relevance,
magnitude,
seriousness,
impressiveness,
noteworthiness
in the sense of stage
Definition
a step or period of development, growth, or progress
the final stage of the tour
Synonyms
step,
leg,
phase,
point,
level,
period,
division,
length,
lap,
juncture
Additional synonyms
in the sense of substance
Definition
important or meaningful quality
It is questionable whether anything of substance has been achieved.
Synonyms
importance,
significance,
moment,
meaningfulness,
concreteness
in the sense of tick
Definition
a moment or instant
I'll be back in a tick.
Synonyms
moment,
second,
minute,
shake (informal),
flash,
instant,
sec (informal),
twinkling,
split second,
jiffy (informal),
trice,
half a mo (British, informal),
two shakes of a lamb's tail (informal),
bat of an eye (informal)
in the sense of trice
She was back in a trice.
Synonyms
moment,
second,
minute,
shake (informal),
flash,
instant,
tick (British, informal),
twinkling,
split second,
jiffy (informal),
twinkling of an eye,
two shakes of a lamb's tail (informal),
bat of an eye (informal)
in the sense of twinkling
And then in a twinkling all vanished away.
Synonyms
moment,
second,
flash,
instant,
tick (British, informal),
twinkle,
split second,
jiffy (informal),
trice,
two shakes of a lamb's tail (informal),
shake (informal),
bat of an eye (informal)
in the sense of value
Definition
the desirability of something, often in terms of its usefulness or exchangeability
Studies are needed to see if these therapies have any value.
Synonyms
importance,
use,
benefit,
worth,
merit,
point,
help,
service,
sense,
profit,
advantage,
utility,
significance,
effectiveness,
mileage (informal),
practicality,
usefulness,
efficacy,
desirability,
serviceableness
in the sense of weight
Definition
force, importance, or influence
That argument no longer carries much weight.
Synonyms
importance,
force,
power,
moment,
value,
authority,
influence,
bottom,
impact,
import (formal),
muscle,
consequence,
substance,
consideration,
emphasis,
significance,
sway,
clout (informal),
leverage,
efficacy,
mana (New Zealand),
persuasiveness
in the sense of worth
Definition
high quality
Her boss did not appreciate her true worth until she quit.