Temporary Definition & Meaning

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    • Synonyms temporary American [tem-puh-rer-ee] / ˈtɛm pəˌrɛr i /

    adjective

    1. lasting, existing, serving, or effective for a time only; not permanent.

      a temporary need;

      a temporary job.

      Synonyms: passing, impermanent Antonyms: permanent

    noun

    plural

    temporaries

    1. temp.

    temporary British / ˈtɛmprərɪ, ˈtɛmpərərɪ /

    adjective

    1. not permanent; provisional

      temporary accommodation

    2. lasting only a short time; transitory

      temporary relief from pain

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    noun

    1. Often shortened to: temp. a person, esp a secretary or other office worker, employed on a temporary basis

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Related Words

    Temporary, transient, transitory agree in referring to that which is not lasting or permanent. Temporary implies an arrangement established with no thought of continuance but with the idea of being changed soon: a temporary structure. Transient describes that which is in the process of passing by, and which will therefore last or stay only a short time: a transient condition. Transitory describes an innate characteristic by which a thing, by its very nature, lasts only a short time: Life is transitory.

    Other Word Forms

    • nontemporariness noun
    • nontemporary adjective
    • temporarily adverb
    • temporariness noun
    • untemporary adjective

    Etymology

    Origin of temporary

    First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin temporārius, equivalent to tempor- (stem of tempus ) “time” + -ārius -ary

    Example Sentences

    Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

    That, combined with a likely temporary trade détente with China, may be all the markets need to assume any new tariff storms can be weathered in the year ahead.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Syrians have "temporary protection" that comes with restrictions.

    From BBC

    On Sunday, county public works crews constructed a temporary bridge essentially out of dirt, according to Capt. Shawn Millerick, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

    From Los Angeles Times

    Yes, asymmetric weapons provide only a temporary advantage.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    The crew blow-torched the fasteners and released the cables that held the crane to the ship, while workers on land laid temporary rails across the wharf.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Related Words

    • brief
    • interim
    • limited
    • makeshift
    • momentary
    • provisional
    • short-lived
    • transitory

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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