tem ‧ po ‧ ra ‧ ry S3 W3 AC /ˈtemp ə rəri, -p ə ri $ -pəreri/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adverb : ↑ temporarily ; adjective : ↑ temporary ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: temporarius , from tempus 'time' ]
1 . continuing for only a limited period of time OPP permanent :
temporary pain relief
I’m living with my parents, but it’s only temporary.
You might want to consider temporary work until you decide what you want to do.
She was employed on a temporary basis.
2 . intended to be used for only a limited period of time OPP permanent :
temporary accommodation
The bridge was erected as a temporary measure.
—temporarily /ˈtemp ə rərəli, ˈtemp ə rərɪli $ ˌtempəˈrerəli/ adverb :
Due to a small fire, the office will be closed temporarily.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ temporary continuing for only a limited period of time:
I’ve got a temporary office job, but I hope I’ll find something more permanent soon.
|
I’m sure the problem is only temporary.
|
temporary staff
|
a temporary visa
▪ provisional temporary – used especially about arrangements or information that people may decide to change in the future. Also used about licences or governments which are only arranged to last for a short time:
Does the hotel accept provisional bookings?
|
They have set a provisional date for the next meeting.
|
a provisional driving licence
|
In June, the rebels claimed to have formed a provisional government.
|
Provisional figures yesterday from the Department of Transport showed that 4,274 people were killed last year — 6 percent fewer than the previous year.
▪ stopgap [only before noun] temporary – used about something that you use for a short time until you can replace it with something better:
The Republicans will approve the one-month budget as a stopgap measure to keep the state operating.
|
This is only a stopgap solution to the country’s debt problem.
▪ passing [only before noun] temporary – used about an interest, thought, or feeling that is short and not very serious:
Tonight’s game will be exciting, even to those with only a passing interest in the sport.
|
As a student, I didn’t give working in finance even a passing thought.
▪ ephemeral formal existing or popular for only a short time:
the ephemeral beauty of white snow on green trees and bare branches
|
Many new words, particularly slang, are fleeting and ephemeral.
▪ transient formal continuing for only a limited time, or staying somewhere for only a short time – used especially to say that something is always changing, or people only stay somewhere for a short time:
the transient nature of life
|
transient changes in the electrical properties of the neurons
|
Arizona has a highly transient population.