momentarily

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adverb 1.3.1 Translations 1.3.2 Usage notes 1.3.3 References

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From momentary + -ly.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈməʊmɛntɛɹɪlɪi/ SAMPA: /"m@UmEntErIli:/

[edit] Adverb

momentarily (not comparable)

1. In a momentary manner; for a moment or instant.
2. (US) In a moment or very soon; at any moment.
3. Progressively; moment-by-moment.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Usage notes

• Many speakers object to the use of momentarily in the sense of “in a moment” rather than “for a moment”, since this is inconsistent with the meaning of momentary;^[1][2] nonetheless, this use is quite common in North America, and is particularly associated with airlines, such as “we will be landing momentarily”.^[3][1][2] In place of momentarily, many speakers prefer the terms presently, soon^[1][2] or the phrase “in a moment”,^[2] for this sense of “in a moment”.

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} “Just a Moment”, by William Safire, New York Times, May 11, 1997
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} I Stand Corrected: More on Language, by William Safire pp. 137–138,
3. ^ On language, by William Safire, 1980, p. 9