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Definitions

for the time being

ADJECTIVE
present
Synonyms
STRONGEST
current
STRONG
begun being coeval commenced contemporary instant modern nowadays prompt started today
WEAK
ad hoc already at this moment contemporaneous even now existent extant going on immediate in duration in process just now present-day topical under consideration up-to-date
Antonyms
STRONG
late old
WEAK
far former future past previous
ADJECTIVE
present-day
Synonyms
STRONGEST
contemporary modern
WEAK
ad hoc already at this moment begun being coeval commenced contemporaneous current even now existent existing extant going on immediate in duration in process instant just now new now nowadays prompt started today topical under consideration up-to-date
Antonyms
STRONGEST
old old-fashioned
ADJECTIVE
pro tem
Synonyms
WEAK
Band-Aid acting ad hoc ad interim alternate brief changeable ephemeral evanescent fleeting fugacious fugitive impermanent interim limited make-do makeshift momentary mortal overnight passing perishable pro tempore provisional provisory shifting short short-lived slapdash stopgap substitute summary supply temp transient transitory unfixed unstable volatile
ADJECTIVE
short-range
Synonyms
STRONGEST
tactical
WEAK
Band-Aid acting ad hoc ad interim alternate brief changeable ephemeral evanescent fleeting fugacious fugitive impermanent interim limited make-do makeshift momentary mortal overnight passing perishable pro tem pro tempore provisional provisory shifting short short-lived short-term slapdash stopgap substitute summary supply temp transient transitory unfixed unstable volatile
ADJECTIVE
short-term
Synonyms
STRONGEST
interim limited momentary
WEAK
Band-Aid acting ad hoc ad interim alternate brief changeable ephemeral evanescent fleeting fugacious fugitive impermanent make-do makeshift mortal overnight passing perishable pro tem pro tempore provisional provisory shifting short short-lived short-range slapdash stopgap substitute summary supply temp transient transitory unfixed unstable volatile
Antonyms
STRONGEST
permanent
ADJECTIVE
temporary
Synonyms
STRONGEST
brief interim limited makeshift momentary provisional short-lived transitory
STRONG
acting alternate ephemeral fugitive impermanent make-do mortal passing perishable shifting short stopgap substitute summary supply temp transient volatile
WEAK
Band-Aid ad hoc ad interim changeable evanescent fleeting fugacious overnight pro tem pro tempore provisory slapdash unfixed unstable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
enduring lasting lengthy long-lived permanent
STRONG
long unabridged
ADVERB
in the meantime
Synonyms
WEAK
meantime meanwhile sometimes temporarily
ADVERB
meanwhile
Synonyms
STRONG
meantime till
WEAK
ad interim concurrently during the interval for now for the duration for the moment for then in the interim in the interval in the intervening time in the meantime simultaneously until up to when
PREPOSITION
during
Synonyms
WEAK
all along all the while amid as at the same time as at the time in the course of in the interim in the meanwhile in the middle of in the time of meanwhile mid midst over pending the time between the whole time throughout until when while

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are far too many Americans who, frustrated with the frozen job market, have just noped out for the time being.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

In a social media post, the trust said it had "made the decision to remove the cows" to an undisclosed location "at least for the time being".

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The prime minister's office said on Tuesday that the DRC had stocks to supply the country until June and promised, for the time being, to limit the increase in the pump price.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Yet Powell’s comments, and the latest batch of forecasts released by the central bank, made it clear to market participants that the Fed will likely remain on hold for the time being.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

But the Mansfields were already there, so she had to put on her hostess face and ignore Lily's casual clothes for the time being.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English