temporary

USAGE SUMMARY

"temporary" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an adjective to describe something that is not intended to last forever or something that is only meant to serve a purpose for a limited amount of time. Example sentence: We hired a temporary assistant to assist us with the extra workload.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And in the meantime the authorities should grant him temporary release so that he can receive the medical treatment that he so urgently needs".

The Guardian

"Our energy market reforms are about making the market more competitive, but also recognising that not just consumers but also businesses have been paying too much for their bills, and we're introducing a temporary price freeze to help consumers.

The Guardian - Money

A sergeant, he took temporary command of his platoon after the senior NCO was killed before his eyes.

The Guardian

More employers, at 46%, plan to hire temporary contractors, and only half of them expect that these workers will transition into full-time, permanent hires.

The Guardian - Money

The social media company is also banning indirect threats of violence, and will introduce temporary suspensions for accounts that fall foul of its policies.

The Guardian - Tech

Iman, who considers herself to be among the empowered women in Egypt, believes that when the temporary government was put together, it "brought to parliament a few individuals whose beliefs belong to the medieval century".

The Guardian

But the solution is temporary: the next shutdown deadline is 15 January 2014, three months away.

The Guardian

The government is hoping to reinstate temporary protection visas, which provide asylum seekers with only three years' protection and deny the visa holder the right to be reunited with their family.

The Guardian

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 10.53am AEST01 53 Immigration minister Scott Morrison is expected to have another crack at introducing temporary protection visas in the senate after Labor got rid of them in the last parliament.

The Guardian

With about 30 minutes to go before Hill was injected with a fatal dose of the sedative pentobarbital, two separate courts stepped in to impose a temporary delay in the proceedings.

The Guardian

Suffolk police have offered a temporary drug amnesty to anyone who surrenders the red or pink tablets of ecstasy, inscribed with a Superman-style "S" in their centre.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "temporary" to differentiate between long-lasting solutions and fixes that are intended only for immediate use. This helps in managing expectations and planning for more permanent solutions.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "temporary" when describing non-permanent situations. Vary your language with synonyms like "interim", "provisional", or "short-term" to add nuance and precision to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "temporary" primarily functions to modify nouns, indicating that something is not permanent or intended to last for a long time. As Ludwig AI indicates, it accurately describes short-term states or arrangements. For example, "temporary release" or "temporary government".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "temporary" is a versatile adjective used to denote the non-permanent nature of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in English. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, highlighting its broad applicability. When writing, remember to use "temporary" to clarify the limited duration of a situation or arrangement and consider alternatives like "provisional" or "interim" for added nuance. Being mindful of these nuances ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

short-term

Directly emphasizes the limited time frame for which something is valid or effective.

provisional

Implies a conditionality or a placeholder status until something more definitive is established.

interim

Suggests a role or solution meant to fill a gap until a more permanent arrangement is made.

passing

Indicates something that is currently happening but will soon be over.

transient

Highlights the fleeting or rapidly passing nature of something.

fleeting

Suggests a quick or momentary appearance before disappearing or changing.

acting

Used to describe someone who is performing the duties of a position temporarily.

ephemeral

Indicates something very short-lived, often with an implied sense of beauty or fragility.

stopgap

Describes something that serves as a short-term fix or solution to an immediate need.

makeshift

Emphasizes the lack of planning, or being improvised for immediate needs.

FAQs

How can I use "temporary" in a sentence?

You can use "temporary" to describe something that is not permanent, such as "a "temporary solution"", "a "temporary job"", or "a "temporary measure"".

What are some alternatives to "temporary"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "provisional", "interim", "short-term", or "transient".

When is it appropriate to use "temporary" versus "provisional"?

"Temporary" generally indicates something is not meant to be permanent. "Provisional", on the other hand, suggests something is subject to further confirmation or adjustment, acting as a placeholder pending final approval. The choice depends on whether the impermanence is due to a fixed duration or the possibility of change.

Is it correct to say "temporarily" instead of "temporary" in certain contexts?

Yes, "temporarily" is the adverb form of "temporary" and is used to describe how something is done. For example, "The road is "temporarily closed"" (adverb) versus "This is a "temporary closure"" (adjective).