Temporarily - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT temporarily /tɛmpəˈrɛrɪli/ /tɛmpəˈrɛrɪli/ IPA guide

Temporarily describes something that happens for a limited amount of time. If you agree to watch your friend's dog temporarily, you'll be surprised if it turns out that your friend will be in France for at least two years.

Temporarily is the adverbial form of "temporary," which comes from the Latin word tempus, meaning time. Something done temporarily is supposed to be concluded in a finite amount of time. If your car is temporarily out of commission, you expect that you will be able to fix it and get it back on the road. If you drop the word temporarily from that sentence, your car may be a goner.

Definitions of temporarily

adverb for a limited time only; not permanently “he will work here temporarily” “he was brought out of retirement temporarily” “a power failure temporarily darkened the town” see moresee less antonyms: permanently for a long time without essential change

Pronunciation US /tɛmpəˈrɛrɪli/ UK /tɛmpəˈrɛrɪli/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘temporarily'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing temporarily

Word Generation Weekly - Series 1

Word Generation Weekly, a multidisciplinary program for teachers to implement in their classrooms, combines vocabulary with discussion and debate of various dilemmas. Here are links to the word lists for Word Generation Weekly: Series 1, Series 2, Series 3.

The Mayor of Casterbridge Thomas Hardy

Michael Henchard, the Mayor of Casterbridge, is a successful and well-respected merchant — but if his shadowy past is exposed, he could lose everything. Read the full texthere.

temp

This vocabulary list features words with the Latin root temp, meaning "time."

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