Definitions
- Referring to something that will happen in a very short time, usually within seconds or minutes. - Describing a brief interruption or pause in an ongoing activity. - Talking about a temporary state or condition that will soon change.
- Referring to a short duration of time, usually a few seconds or minutes. - Describing a concise or condensed explanation or summary. - Talking about a quick or cursory glance or examination.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to a short amount of time.
- 2Both can be used to describe a quick action or event.
- 3Both can be used as adverbs to modify verbs.
What is the difference?
- 1Duration: Momentarily refers to a very brief and specific moment in time, while briefly can refer to a longer but still short duration of time.
- 2Usage: Momentarily is typically used to describe something that is about to happen or will happen very soon, while briefly is used to describe something that has already happened or occurred.
- 3Interruption vs Explanation: Momentarily is often used to describe a brief interruption or pause, while briefly is often used to describe a concise explanation or summary.
- 4Formality: Briefly is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while momentarily is more commonly used in formal contexts.
Remember this!
Momentarily and briefly are synonyms that both refer to a short amount of time. However, momentarily refers to a very brief and specific moment in time, often used to describe something that is about to happen or will happen very soon. On the other hand, briefly refers to a short duration of time and is often used to describe something that has already happened or occurred, such as a summary or explanation.