momentous
adjective
mo·men·tous
mō-ˈmen-təs 
mə-
: having great or lasting importance : consequential, significant
a momentous decision
a momentous event/occasion
The Senate begins a momentous debate on health care today …—
The New York Times
The New York TimesDeydey usually talked about his travels, the places he'd seen and the people, the close calls and momentous encounters with animals, weather, other Anishinabeg, and best of all, ghosts.—Louise Erdrich
Louise ErdrichThe late nineteenth century was strewn with inventions. Many were momentous, but few affected men and women more closely than the bicycle and its motorized offspring: motorcycle, motor-car and aeroplane.—Eugen Weber
Eugen Weber
momentously
adverb
a momentously important decision
… a … twist that is executed differently from the comic book story, but is just as dramatically and momentously presented.
—The Philippines Daily Inquirer
The Philippines Daily Inquirer
momentousness
noun
But other East Europeans had little time to marvel at the momentousness of the moment. Just one day after the fall of the [Berlin] Wall, Bulgaria's dour leader of 35 years, Todor Zhivkov, was ousted.
—Stephen E. Deane
Stephen E. Deane
Examples of momentous in a Sentence
My college graduation was a momentous day in my life.
a momentous occasion that will go down in the history books
Recent Examples on the Web
The Bong-Carpenter event sold out in only a few hours (there will be a standby line) and promises to be one of the momentous film-nerd gatherings of the year.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
As one of the longest stays in space for a NASA astronaut, his return is not only a personal milestone for the Wilmore family but also a momentous occasion for the space community.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
And heck, maybe not since Norm Stewart declined KU coach Phog Allen’s scholarship offer and chose MU has there been a more momentous development for Mizzou from out of Lawrence.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 18 Mar. 2025
No matter what happens, the move remains momentous.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for momentous
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Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
As one of the longest stays in space for a NASA astronaut, his return is not only a personal milestone for the Wilmore family but also a momentous occasion for the space community.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
And heck, maybe not since Norm Stewart declined KU coach Phog Allen’s scholarship offer and chose MU has there been a more momentous development for Mizzou from out of Lawrence.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 18 Mar. 2025
No matter what happens, the move remains momentous.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for momentous
Cite this Entry
“Momentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentous. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
momentous
adjective
mo·men·tous
mō-ˈment-əs
: very important
a momentous decision
momentously
adverb
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