temporarily

USAGE SUMMARY

'temporarily' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is happening, will happen, or has happened for a limited period of time. Example sentence: We will be temporarily closing our store this week while we restock our inventory.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Despite the president's deliberate attempt to talk down the markets and the media's dramatic warnings of economic Armageddon posed by a mere 17% of the government remaining temporarily idle, the S&P 500 closed at a record high the day after the shutdown ended.

The Guardian - Opinion

"In addition, the executing officer or a person assisting is empowered to leave a warrant premise temporarily and subsequently re-enter to continue the execution of the warrant in certain instances where, for example, the occupier returns home and the covert nature of the warrant is at risk.

The Guardian

The Heysham 1 and Hartlepool nuclear plants have a combined capacity of about 2.4 gigawatts (GW) and are out of action at a time when part of the 2GW Ferrybridge coal-fired station is also temporarily closed down due to a fire.

The Guardian

Irate passengers took to Twitter to express their anger as Finsbury Park was temporarily closed to ease congestion.

The Guardian - Business

"That problem has been temporarily rectified by the local authority paying for a concrete specialist company to simply knock off the crumbling concrete and painting the exposed metal underneath".

The Guardian

Taking one point from BMO Field could be seen as a good thing and the comeback might temporarily drown the lackluster defensive performance for Les Bleus de Montreal' There isn't a defense problem at the Impact: there is a "defensive" mind-set problem at the Impact.

The Guardian - Sport

Another hacking attack two years later – this time on the Associated Press Twitter account – merely said Obama had been injured in an attack on the White House, but still managed to spark a flash crash that temporarily wiped billions of dollars off the stock market.

The Guardian

There are many more stories of people hoping to enter the UK temporarily being turned down on the suspicion, stated implicitly if not explicitly, that they are happy to abandon jobs and life in order to grab some of our abundant riches.

The Guardian - Opinion

The upshot is that the Fed will borrow from banks temporarily, then pay them back with interest the next day.

The Guardian - Business

"The risk he runs, however, is that the insurgency is not really defeated, only disrupted temporarily and for political posturing," he said.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, he said, the board will not even temporarily relax the rule requiring any product called tequila to contain 51% agave.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "temporarily", clarify the expected duration if it's not obvious from the context. This helps avoid confusion and ensures clarity in your communication.

Common error

Avoid using "temporarily" when the situation is likely to be permanent. Using it incorrectly can mislead your audience about the actual status or change.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "temporarily" functions primarily to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating that the action, state, or quality it describes is not permanent but is limited in duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "temporarily" serves to specify that a condition or action is not permanent. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. When using "temporarily", it is essential to consider the implied duration and avoid using it when describing permanent situations. Alternatives like "for a limited time" or "briefly" can be used depending on the nuances you wish to convey. Ensure clarity by specifying the expected duration whenever possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a limited time

Focuses on the duration being restricted.

briefly

Highlights the concise nature of the action or state.

for a short period

Specifies a brief duration.

for the time being

Emphasizes the current state is not permanent.

in the interim

Highlights an action taken during a transitional period.

on a provisional basis

Stresses the conditional and non-final nature of the arrangement.

for a season

Refers to a limited time period.

for now

Implies the situation may change soon.

fleetingly

Implies an action that does not last.

ephemerally

Uses a more formal term for something short-lived.

FAQs

How can I use "temporarily" in a sentence?

You can use "temporarily" to describe actions or states that are not permanent. For example, "The library is "temporarily closed" for renovations".

What are some alternatives to using "temporarily"?

Alternatives include phrases like "for the time being", "for a limited time", or "briefly", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "temporarily permanent"?

The phrase "temporarily permanent" is contradictory. "Temporarily" implies a short duration, while "permanent" suggests forever. It's better to choose one or the other to accurately reflect the situation.

What's the difference between "temporarily" and "transiently"?

"Temporarily" implies a known or expected end to a situation, while "transiently" suggests that something is fleeting or rapidly changing. Therefore, "transiently" is more often used with something that changes quickly and unpredictably.