rhizoverbBeta
DictionarymomentaryVery brief
adjective

momentary

MOH-mun-tair-ee/ˈməʊmənteri/

Lasting for only a very short time.

The bursting bubble creates a momentary ring of droplets above the dish.

A soap bubble bursts into a delicate ring of droplets above a shallow soap dish, showing a fleeting phenomenon lasting only an instant; no sequence arrows or words.
Etymology
momentLatinshort time; instant
+aryLatinrelating to

The adjective ending attaches to momentum in its “short time” sense. The resulting Latin adjective already meant “of brief duration,” matching something that lasts only a moment.

In context

DORA14:55
… cognitive debt is very different from momentary or in the- moment cognitive load
DORA Community Discussion - From Technical Debt to Cognitive and Intent Debt

More examples

  • After a momentary hesitation, she accepts the invitation.
  • The lights flicker during a momentary power outage.
  • A momentary distraction makes him miss the exit.

Forms

momentary

momentarily adverb — For only a very short time.

Similar words

brief
Means short in duration, but not necessarily just an instant.
fleeting
Often describes feelings or impressions that quickly disappear.