moment
/ˈmoʊmənt/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.24 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A definite period of time, specifically one-tenth of a point, or one-fortieth or one-fiftieth of an hour.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "...over everything there lay a deposit of heavy white dust, which was only blown off one moment to thicken on another."
- "Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands."
- ""You know, we all have our own lives to live. Now and then we get confused, we become weak and vulnerable. We have to look around for help. Sometimes we get lucky and there's someone who loves us to support us, to help us along. We have a right, being human, to those moments of weakness. We have a right to get confused and ask for help. [...] But when that help is offered and accepted, we don't have a right to remain confused forever, to keep those who help us standing by in a kind of limbo...""
- "Wait a moment, while I lock the front door."
- "Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps,[…], and the light of the reflector fell full upon her."
- "Sophia broke down here. Even at this moment she was subconsciously comparing her rendering of the part of the forlorn bride with Miss Marie Lohr's."
Etymology
From Middle English moment, from Old French moment, from Latin mōmentum. Doublet of momentum and movement.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: moment, mōmentum
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈmoʊmənt/
- British English: /ˈməʊmənt/