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Moment I Time Short Wait Bad Thought Back

Word moment
WordType (noun)
Phonetic BrE / ˈməʊmənt / NAmE / ˈmoʊmənt /
Example
  • could you wait a moment, please?
  • one moment, please (= please wait a short time).
  • he thought for a moment before replying.
  • i'll be back in a moment.
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Content

moment

(noun)BrE / ˈməʊmənt / NAmE / ˈmoʊmənt /
  1. a very short period of time
    • see also senior moment
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/senior-moment
    • Could you wait a moment, please?
    • One moment, please (= Please wait a short time).
    • He thought for a moment before replying.
    • I'll be back in a moment.
    • We arrived not a moment too soon (= almost too late).
    • Moments later (= a very short time later), I heard a terrible crash.
  2. an exact point in time
    • We're busy at the moment (= now).
    • I agreed in a moment of weakness.
    • At that very moment, the phone rang.
    • From that moment on, she never felt really well again.
  3. a particular occasion; a time for doing something
    • I'm waiting for the right moment to tell him the bad news.
    • That was one of the happiest moments of my life.
    • Have I caught you at a bad moment?
  4. very soon
    • Hurry up! He'll be back any moment now.
  5. not long in advance; without warning or time for preparation
    • This was the best room we could get at such short notice.
    • You must be ready to leave at a moment's notice.
  6. now, at the present time
    • At this moment in time, I don't know what my decision will be.
  7. to be popular for a short time (used about something that is not usually popular)
    • The previously unfashionable Tyrol is currently having a moment.
    • Classic '70s hairstyles are having a moment once more.
  8. to not act normally for a short time, for example when you forget where you are or what you are doing
    • see also senior moment
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/senior-moment
    • Sorry, I was just having a moment. What time is it?
  9. to have a short argument or romantic exchange
    • Oh, sorry—were you two having a moment?
  10. the time when you have to do something difficult or unpleasant
    • I’d better go and see the dentist—I can’t put off the evil hour any longer.
  11. for now; for a short time
    • This house is big enough for the moment, but we'll have to move if we have children.
  12. to have short times that are better, more interesting, etc. than others
    • The job isn't exciting all the time, but it has its moments.
    • I found the play rather boring, but it had its moments.
  13. used to ask somebody to wait for a short time
    • ‘Is Mr Burns available?’ ‘Just a second, please, I'll check.’
  14. the latest possible time before an important event
    • They changed the plans at the last minute.
    • Don't leave your decision to the last moment.
  15. as soon as…
    • I want to see him the moment he arrives.
    • The moment she walked through the door I thought she looked different.
  16. a time when somebody/something is tested, or when important decisions are made
    • The moment of truth is when the trainee pilots take over the controls of the plane.
  17. certainly not; not at all
    • I don't think for a moment that she'll accept but you can ask her.
  18. very important
    • matters of great moment
  19. famous, important and talked about a lot now
    • She's the fashion designer of the moment.
  20. suddenly, without planning in advance
    • I phoned him up on the spur of the moment.
    • a spur-of-the-moment decision
  21. the best time to do something in order for it to be successful
    • The trick is in finding the (right) psychological moment to ask him for more money.
  22. to wait for a short time
    • Can you wait a second while I make a call?
  23. used when you have just noticed or remembered something, or had a sudden idea
    • Wait a minute—this isn't the right key.

    Extra Examples

    • A moment later, the ceiling fell in.
    • After a moment we followed him.
    • Afterwards she relived every moment in her head.
    • At that very moment the phone rang.
    • At the present moment, we do not have a choice.
    • Could you look through this report when you have a spare moment?
    • Could you wait a few moments?
    • For one heart-stopping moment, we thought she was going to fall.
    • He might wake up at any moment.
    • He opened his mouth to say he loved her, but the moment passed.
    • He was here just a moment ago.
    • He’s in a bad mood today—you need to choose your moment carefully.
    • Her finest moment came when she won Wimbledon.
    • Her finest moment came when she won the Nobel Prize.
    • I can only spare you a moment, I’m afraid—I’m terribly busy.
    • I couldn’t stand it a moment longer.
    • I didn’t want to screw up my big moment.
    • I don’t expect to spend every waking moment at work.
    • I don’t think this is the right moment to ask for a bonus.
    • I dread the moment when she finds out.
    • I felt at home here from the very moment I arrived.
    • I loved her from the first moment I met her.
    • I managed to capture the moment on film.
    • I spent a few moments thinking what I was going to say.
    • I stood there for a moment or two.
    • I treasure the moments we spent together.
    • I’ll be back in a moment.
    • In the heat of the moment she forgot what she wanted to say.
    • It was a bad time to have a senior moment.
    • It was the proudest moment of my entire life.
    • She let the news slip by mistake, in an unguarded moment.
    • She paused a moment to reflect.
    • That was a bad moment in my life.
    • The feeling only lasted a moment.
    • The moment had finally come to make a move.
    • There was a moment of silence.
    • There’s never a dull moment in this job.
    • They were making the most of those last precious moments together.
    • This is one of the book’s funniest moments.
    • This won’t take a moment.
    • Victory was sweet, and he wanted to savour every moment.
    • We have reached a critical moment in the negotiations.
    • Why do you leave it until the last possible moment before getting ready to leave?
    • You need to be aware of what you are doing at any given moment.
    • a great moment in the country’s history
    • at the moment of death
    • in her rare moments of leisure
    • Could you wait a moment, please?
    • From that moment on, she never felt really well again.
    • I haven’t finished. I’m still waiting for a quiet moment.
    • I’m waiting for the right moment to tell him the bad news.
    • Moments later, I heard a terrible crash.
    • One moment, please.
    • We arrived not a moment too soon.
    • We’re busy at the moment.

    Word Origin

    • late Middle English: from Latin momentum, from movimentum, from movere ‘to move’.
Copyright This card's content is collected from the following dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Tags: m

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