mo·ment 
/ˈmoʊmənt/ noun
plural mo·ments /ˈmoʊmənt/ noun 1 [count] : a very short period of time
▪ The sunshine that was here a moment [=minute, second] ago is gone. ▪ The sun was shining. Moments later, it began to rain. ▪ It was a moment before she realized what had happened. ▪ She stopped for a moment and peeked into the window. ▪ It should only take a moment to fix the problem. ▪ Do you have a (spare) moment? [=do you have some free time so we can talk to each other briefly?] ▪ I'm very busy and I don't have a moment to spare. ▪ The doctor arrived not a moment too soon. [=the doctor arrived just in time to help] ▪ I'll explain that in a moment. [=shortly, soon] ▪ The crowd observed a moment of silence [=a short period of silent thought or prayer] for those who died in the tragedy. 2 [count] : a particular time : a precise point in time
▪ One moment it was sunny; the next it was pouring rain. ▪ We enjoyed every moment of the play. [=we enjoyed all of the play] ▪ The moment for us to act has arrived. ▪ The moment is ripe for action. [=this is the right time for action] ▪ War seemed unavoidable at that moment in history. ▪ She knew exactly the right moment to ask for a raise. ▪ We had an exciting vacation. There was never a dull moment. 3 a [noncount] : the present time
▪ At the moment [=right now, at the current time] she is working on a novel. ▪ We aren't prepared at this moment [=at this time, now] to say what our plans are. ▪ As of this moment [=as of now, right now], there's nothing you can do. ◊Something that is true for the moment is true now but might not be true for long.
▪ For the moment, it is the world's largest city. [=it is the world's largest city now, but that may not be true much longer] ▪ He's staying out of trouble for the moment. ▪ For the moment, at least, I had the room to myself. ◊Someone or something that is of the moment is very popular at a particular time.
▪ the vacation destination of the moment [=the vacation destination that is now most popular] ▪ the man/woman of the moment [=the man/woman who is now very popular and admired]
b [count] : a time of importance or success
▪ She took the time to relish her moment of triumph. ▪ He's not the best player on the team, but he has his moments. [=he has times when he is extremely good, successful, etc.] ▪ It was a defining moment for him. ▪ It was a crowning moment in his presidency.
▪ The sunshine that was here a moment [=minute, second] ago is gone. ▪ The sun was shining. Moments later, it began to rain. ▪ It was a moment before she realized what had happened. ▪ She stopped for a moment and peeked into the window. ▪ It should only take a moment to fix the problem. ▪ Do you have a (spare) moment? [=do you have some free time so we can talk to each other briefly?] ▪ I'm very busy and I don't have a moment to spare. ▪ The doctor arrived not a moment too soon. [=the doctor arrived just in time to help] ▪ I'll explain that in a moment. [=shortly, soon] ▪ The crowd observed a moment of silence [=a short period of silent thought or prayer] for those who died in the tragedy.
▪ One moment it was sunny; the next it was pouring rain. ▪ We enjoyed every moment of the play. [=we enjoyed all of the play] ▪ The moment for us to act has arrived. ▪ The moment is ripe for action. [=this is the right time for action] ▪ War seemed unavoidable at that moment in history. ▪ She knew exactly the right moment to ask for a raise. ▪ We had an exciting vacation. There was never a dull moment.
▪ At the moment [=right now, at the current time] she is working on a novel. ▪ We aren't prepared at this moment [=at this time, now] to say what our plans are. ▪ As of this moment [=as of now, right now], there's nothing you can do. ◊Something that is true for the moment is true now but might not be true for long.
▪ For the moment, it is the world's largest city. [=it is the world's largest city now, but that may not be true much longer] ▪ He's staying out of trouble for the moment. ▪ For the moment, at least, I had the room to myself. ◊Someone or something that is of the moment is very popular at a particular time.
▪ the vacation destination of the moment [=the vacation destination that is now most popular] ▪ the man/woman of the moment [=the man/woman who is now very popular and admired]
b [count] : a time of importance or success
▪ She took the time to relish her moment of triumph. ▪ He's not the best player on the team, but he has his moments. [=he has times when he is extremely good, successful, etc.] ▪ It was a defining moment for him. ▪ It was a crowning moment in his presidency.
any moment
◊If something could happen (at) any moment (now), it could happen very soon.
▪ He could lose his temper at any moment. ▪ The war could begin at any moment. ▪ She should be arriving at any moment now.
▪ He could lose his temper at any moment. ▪ The war could begin at any moment. ▪ She should be arriving at any moment now.
at/on a moment's notice — see 1notice
from moment to moment or from one moment to the next or moment by moment
: very quickly as time passes
▪ The weather kept changing from one moment to the next. = The weather kept changing from moment to moment. [=from minute to minute]
▪ The weather kept changing from one moment to the next. = The weather kept changing from moment to moment. [=from minute to minute]
hold/hang on a moment or wait/just a moment
informal — used to tell someone to wait or to stop for a brief time ▪ “Aren't you finished yet?” “Hold on a moment. I'm almost done.” ▪ Hang on a moment—I don't understand.
moment of truth
: the time when you have to do or decide something
▪ The moment of truth came early, when we had to decide whether to stay or go. ▪ It was her moment of truth, when she needed to show that she had the talent to succeed.
▪ The moment of truth came early, when we had to decide whether to stay or go. ▪ It was her moment of truth, when she needed to show that she had the talent to succeed.
not for a/one moment
: at no time : not at all
▪ I did not believe her for one moment. [=I never believed her]
▪ I did not believe her for one moment. [=I never believed her]
of moment
formal : having importance
▪ an event of great moment [=a very important event] ▪ There is no news of any moment to report.
▪ an event of great moment [=a very important event] ▪ There is no news of any moment to report.
on the spur of the moment — see 1spur
the last moment
: the latest possible time : the last minute
▪ Our flight was canceled at the last moment. ▪ She finished her paper at the last moment. ▪ Many people wait until the last (possible) moment before shopping for Christmas presents.
▪ Our flight was canceled at the last moment. ▪ She finished her paper at the last moment. ▪ Many people wait until the last (possible) moment before shopping for Christmas presents.
the moment
: as soon as
▪ The moment the cameras are turned off, he is able to relax. ▪ Everything stops the moment she walks in the room.
▪ The moment the cameras are turned off, he is able to relax. ▪ Everything stops the moment she walks in the room.
within moments
: very quickly : within a very short amount of time
▪ Within moments, dozens of people had gathered.
▪ Within moments, dozens of people had gathered.
