Something that is temporary lasts for only a limited time.
His job here is only temporary.
Most adolescent problems are temporary.
...a temporary loss of memory.
Synonyms: impermanent, passing, transitory, brief More Synonyms of temporary
temporarily (tempəreərɪli)adverb [ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
The peace agreement has at least temporarily halted the civil war.
Checkpoints between the two zones were temporarily closed.
Synonyms: briefly, for the moment, for the time being, momentarily More Synonyms of temporary
More Synonyms of temporary
temporary in British English
(ˈtɛmpərərɪ, ˈtɛmprərɪ)
adjective
1.
not permanent; provisional
temporary accommodation
2.
lasting only a short time; transitory
temporary relief from pain
nounWord forms: plural-raries
3.
a person, esp a secretary or other office worker, employed on a temporary basis
Often shortened to: temp
Derived forms
temporarily (ˈtemporarily)
adverb
temporariness (ˈtemporariness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin temporārius, from tempus time
temporary in American English
(ˈtɛmpəˌrɛri)
adjective
1.
lasting, enjoyed, used, etc. for a time only; not permanent
noun
2.
an employee hired for temporary service, esp. one hired as an office worker
SYNONYMY NOTE: temporary applies to a post held (or to the person holding such a post) for a limited time,subject to dismissal by those having the power of appointment [a temporary mail carrier]; provisional is specifically applied to a government established for the time being in a country,a newly formed nation, etc. until a permanent government can be formed; , ad interim refers to an appointment for an intervening period, as between the death of an officialand the election of a successor; , acting is applied to one who temporarily takes over the powers of a regular official duringthe latter's absence [a vice-president often serves as acting president]
OPPOSITE: permanent
Derived forms
temporarily (ˌtempoˈrarily)
adverb
temporariness (ˈtempoˌrariness)
noun
Word origin
L temporarius < tempus, time: see temper
Examples of 'temporary' in a sentence
temporary
Uncertainty also makes firms more likely to employ temporary workers rather than take on new permanent staff.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A couple of months ago he came into work and told me he had a temporary job in the warehouse.
The Sun (2017)
Some of the benefits could be permanent, while others could be on a temporary basis to help your employees settle in to the new location.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In the south, where temporary jobs are common, about a fifth are selfemployed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He added:'He gets by doing temporary jobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Our heroes are undaunted and move into temporary accommodation at an old folks' home - but all is not as it seems.
The Sun (2016)
The irony is that this spectacle is a temporary loss of national identity.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He told police to make more use of temporary passport seizure powers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This may be good for their pockets on a temporary basis.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Replacing the striking staff with temporary agency workers may seem another solution.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Growing numbers are resorting to temporary jobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was often used as a temporary bridge while permanent structures were built underneath or repaired.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The action seemed to afford him a temporary relief.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She has since obtained a temporary licence.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The council advised her to move into temporary accommodation the next time her husband became aggressive.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Temporary memory loss like this is pretty rare.
The Sun (2010)
Hundreds of temporary workers are now unemployed.
The Sun (2009)
But getting older people out of shoddy temporary accommodation is just the beginning.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
So the impairment may be only a temporary loss of value.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Within a month he lost his job and his current temporary job is ending in less than a month.
The Sun (2012)
The company also seeks stability through economic cycles by keeping the temporary and permanent sides of the business in balance.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Hurts and pains are only temporary.
Christianity Today (2000)
These may include a temporary ban on short-selling.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The pain was temporary, but the cash and lifestyle are permanent.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This way, the scene will change on a temporary basis for a couple of months.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
At the moment, it has a temporary licence.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He withdrew his claim this year after the Government imposed a temporary export ban.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He is in temporary charge of Doncaster, but results have not gone his way.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
temporary
British English: temporary /ˈtɛmpərərɪ; ˈtɛmprərɪ/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is temporary lasts for only a limited time.
His job here is only temporary.
American English: temporary
Arabic: مُؤَقَّت
Brazilian Portuguese: temporário
Chinese: 临时的
Croatian: privremen
Czech: dočasný
Danish: midlertidig
Dutch: tijdelijk
European Spanish: temporal
Finnish: tilapäinen
French: temporaire
German: vorübergehend
Greek: προσωρινός
Italian: temporaneo
Japanese: 一時の
Korean: 임시의
Norwegian: midlertidig
Polish: tymczasowy
European Portuguese: temporário
Romanian: temporar
Russian: временный
Latin American Spanish: temporal
Swedish: tillfällig
Thai: ชั่วคราว
Turkish: geçici
Ukrainian: тимчасовий
Vietnamese: tạm thời
All related terms of 'temporary'
temporary job
A job is the work that someone does to earn money.
temporary loss
Loss is the fact of no longer having something or having less of it than before.
temporary staff
The staff of an organization are the people who work for it.
temporary account
A temporary account is an account which is closed out at the end of the year .
temporary hardness
hardness of water due to the presence of magnesium and calcium bicarbonates, which can be precipitated as carbonates by boiling
temporary housing
You refer to the buildings in which people live as housing when you are talking about their standard, price, or availability.
temporary licence
A licence is an official document which gives you permission to do, use, or own something.
temporary respite
A respite is a short period of rest from something unpleasant .
temporary shelter
A shelter is a small building or covered place which is made to protect people from bad weather or danger .
temporary exhibition
An exhibition is a public event at which pictures , sculptures , or other objects of interest are displayed, for example at a museum or art gallery .
temporary phenomenon
A phenomenon is something that is observed to happen or exist.
temporary accommodation
Accommodation is used to refer to buildings or rooms where people live or stay .