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
Rather than presenting a united front before a momentous negotiation, the strike shows the WGA West in apparent internal disarray and short-staffed leading into a demanding time.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
Just earlier today, news emerged that Amazon had surpassed Walmart as the world’s largest company, measured by sales, a momentous occasion highlighting the e-commerce behemoth’s continuing dominance.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 19 Feb. 2026
This year is set to be one of the most momentous seasons for Alaska cruising in recent memory.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
The 2026 Grammy telecast is already shaping up be a momentous one in Grammy history.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for momentous
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Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
Just earlier today, news emerged that Amazon had surpassed Walmart as the world’s largest company, measured by sales, a momentous occasion highlighting the e-commerce behemoth’s continuing dominance.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 19 Feb. 2026
This year is set to be one of the most momentous seasons for Alaska cruising in recent memory.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
The 2026 Grammy telecast is already shaping up be a momentous one in Grammy history.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for momentous
Cite this Entry
“Momentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/momentous. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
momentous
adjective
mo·men·tous
mō-ˈment-əs
: very important
a momentous decision
momentously
adverb
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