moment

noun

ˈmō-mənt How to pronounce moment (audio)
Definition of momentnext
1
as in time
a particular point at which an event takes place at that moment he suddenly turned around and headed toward me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in importance
the quality or state of being important an event of great moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in minute
a very small space of time I'll be there in just a moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in today
the time currently existing or in progress I'm not doing anything at the moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun moment differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of moment are consequence, importance, significance, and weight. While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

Where would consequence be a reasonable alternative to moment?

The words consequence and moment can be used in similar contexts, but consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

When is importance a more appropriate choice than moment?

The synonyms importance and moment are sometimes interchangeable, but importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

When can significance be used instead of moment?

While in some cases nearly identical to moment, significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

When could weight be used to replace moment?

While the synonyms weight and moment are close in meaning, weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of moment Officer Tolson of the Bradenton Police Department arrived moments later and the delivery driver, wanting nothing to do with the alligator, asked the officer to deliver the pizza instead. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025 Jelly Roll is dedicated to using his journey to inspire and uplift others, never taking any moment for granted. —Lizzie Hyman, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025 The sweet, floral, and milky notes of cherry blossoms reconnect us to childhood and a sense of calm—and can turn a small, everyday moments into a special one. —Ana Morales, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025 The Yellow Jackets have had their moments this season, but pulling off an upset here would take a near-perfect performance. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moment
  1. time
  2. importance
  3. minute
  4. today
  5. occasion
  6. significance
  7. second
  8. present
Noun
  • After losing 1-0 in regular time which meant a 2-2 draw on aggregate, Los Blancos prevailed 4-2 in a penalty shootout to set up a quarterfinals showdown with Arsenal.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Then Sterling did some less effective things and got suspended anyway, so that mad idea was, at least, parked for the time being.
    — Amy Lawrence, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of time
Noun
  • Looking toward the future of Korean content globally, Seo emphasized the importance of genre diversity while maintaining quality.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The apparel industry cannot afford to ignore the importance of investing in its majority workforce.
    — Adele Stafford, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of importance
Noun
  • American leading scorer Matt Rogers injured his right knee four minutes into the game.
    — Jeff Wallner, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Scott left that game in visible pain but returned less than three minutes later with his hand wrapped.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of minute
Noun
  • Need help with today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle?
    — Mark Cooper, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
  • The recruitment effort, known as Project Red TX, is still operating today.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of today
Noun
  • Miller, the face of Frame’s Spring 2025 campaign alongside Green, had arrived in Paris just the night before for the occasion.
    — Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
  • One way to facilitate conversations is requiring occasions where cell phones are put away.
    — Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of occasion
Noun
  • The award signaled the significance of Apple TV+ as a business.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Social media is a cornerstone of any successful marketing strategy, and in 2025, its significance will only grow.
    — Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of significance
Noun
  • Finished a close second on debut with the winner of that race returning to win an Allowance race and then a distant 4th in the Risen Star Stakes.
    — Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Each chef has just 30 seconds to select a single ingredient.
    — Buddha Lo, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of second
Noun
  • Their mighty rotation is under some duress at present, as top starter George Kirby is questionable for the start of the season with shoulder inflammation.
    — Tony Blengino, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • At present, information regarding the extent of land burned and the size of the crew conducting the prescribed fire is unavailable.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacramento Bee, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of present

Phrases Containing moment

Browse Nearby Words

moment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moment. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on moment

Nglish: Translation of moment for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about moment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All