glimpse momentarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "glimpse momentarily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a brief or fleeting sighting of something. Example: "As I walked through the forest, I caught a glimpse momentarily of a deer before it disappeared into the trees."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

An ongoing theme in human culture is the possibility of experiencing the true nature of that slippery thing called reality, whether glimpsed momentarily or lived as a continuous state of being.

Huffington Post

Although short-lived, it was the biggest points fall in the history of the blue-chip index and has sparked an anxious self-examination by a shaken Wall Street that, at 2.47pm on Thursday, 6 May, momentarily glimpsed Armageddon.

The Guardian - Business

As he cleans, he momentarily glimpses the same demonic figure as the day before, but he ignores it and continue his work.

Wikipedia

Here, momentarily, you glimpse the way in which, for Naipaul, the novel has been the balm to the confusions of his inheritance.

The Guardian - Books

As Cruyff and Ajax were winning three European Cups in succession in the early 1970s, Scottish club football had reached a level of continuous achievement on the European stage that it was only momentarily to glimpse again.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I mean, you can momentarily get these glimpses of real pain, but it's nice to really, really process it and get into it and figure out why it hurts so bad; be really honest about it without having it be you talking to the person you want to talk to".

Huffington Post

Late-evening customers who have lingered over dessert — a childish, indulgent list that includes doughnuts, a make-your-own sundae, and a sticky-bun doppelgänger called "monkey bread" — might find the lights going up momentarily, giving an eerie glimpse of the room's origins, with the diners themselves so many widgets waiting to leave the factory floor.

The New Yorker

Only Adela Quested, the young girl who is most open to experience, can glimpse their possible concord, and then only momentarily, in the courtroom during the trial at which she is the central witness.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even the towers of Trump Place momentarily take on Venetian magic, glimpsed as sensuous, rippled reflections in the wake of a passing ship.

The New York Times

And then, for just a second, perhaps his publicists momentarily looked away, I got a glimpse of the slightly overwhelmed kid behind the YouTube sensation.

Vice

Over the road he caught a glimpse of the Sonic Boom T-shirt I was wearing and while momentarily checking it out, cycled lazily into a lamppost and fell off into the road.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance impact, follow "glimpse momentarily" with specific details about what was seen, creating a vivid, concise image for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using redundant adverbs with "glimpse momentarily". Adding further intensifiers like "quickly" or "suddenly" can make the phrase sound awkward and repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "glimpse momentarily" functions as a descriptive element, typically modifying a verb to specify the brief and transient nature of an observation or perception. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "glimpse momentarily" is a grammatically correct way to describe a very brief observation. Ludwig's analysis indicates that the phrase is usable, though not very frequent, and is suitable for neutral to slightly formal contexts such as news and descriptive writing. When using the phrase, writers should be mindful of potential redundancy with other adverbs and aim to provide specific details about what was glimpsed to enhance the impact. While not explicitly present in the provided data, the AI confirms that the phrase is valid and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Catch a quick glimpse

Highlights the speed of the action.

Glance briefly

Highlights the speed and casualness of the observation.

Catch a fleeting glimpse

Emphasizes the transient nature of the sighting.

See briefly

Simplifies the expression to its most basic components.

Observe for a second

Highlights the short duration of the observation.

Notice momentarily

Replaces "glimpse" with a more general term for perception.

Spot fleetingly

Uses a more dynamic verb to describe the brief sighting.

Perceive for an instant

Formal alternative, emphasizing the brevity of the perception.

View briefly

A more neutral alternative, focusing on the act of viewing.

Witness for a moment

Suggests a more passive observation of an event.

FAQs

What does "glimpse momentarily" mean?

The phrase "glimpse momentarily" refers to seeing something briefly or for a very short period of time. It emphasizes the fleeting nature of the observation.

What can I say instead of "glimpse momentarily"?

You can use alternatives like "catch a fleeting glimpse", "see briefly", or "glance briefly" to express a similar idea.

Is it redundant to say "glimpse momentarily"?

While both "glimpse" and "momentarily" imply brevity, using them together can emphasize the extremely short duration of the sighting. However, be mindful of potential redundancy and consider if a single word would suffice.

How to use "glimpse momentarily" in a sentence?

You can use "glimpse momentarily" to describe a quick or fleeting observation. For example, "I "caught a glimpse" of the deer momentarily as it ran through the forest."