Moment vs. Minute — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 8, 2024
Moment refers to an indefinite short period of time, focusing on its fleeting, qualitative nature, while a minute is a precise measure of time, exactly sixty seconds long.
Difference Between Moment and Minute
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A moment is typically used to describe a very brief period, emphasizing its impermanence and subjectivity. On the other hand, a minute is a well-defined unit of time used universally for its exactness.
People often use "moment" to convey a sense of brief, yet significant experience, such as "a moment of realization". Whereas, "minute" is frequently utilized in contexts requiring precision, like timing in sports or cooking.
In literature and daily conversation, "moment" can imply an emotional or pivotal time without a fixed duration. In contrast, "minute" usually refers to routine timekeeping and lacks emotional connotations.
The term "moment" can also be used metaphorically to denote importance or impact, as in "a momentous occasion". Whereas, "minute" strictly quantifies time and is seldom used metaphorically.
In scientific contexts, "moment" can refer to specific points in time with significant implications, while "minute" is consistently used to describe sixty-second intervals, important for its consistency in experiments and measurements.
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Comparison Chart
Duration
Indefinite, subjective
Exactly 60 seconds
Usage in Language
Qualitative, often emotional or significant
Quantitative, precise
Metaphorical Usage
Common (e.g., momentous)
Rare
Scientific Relevance
Used to denote significant points or short timespans
Used for precise measurements and times
Emotional Connotation
Often implies emotional or pivotal significance
Generally lacks emotional connotations
Compare with Definitions
Moment
An appropriate time for something.
Wait for the right moment to ask your question.
Minute
Sixty seconds.
I'll be ready in one minute.
Moment
A particular point in time.
At that moment, the phone rang.
Minute
Infinitesimal part of something.
We found a minute amount of DNA on the sample.
Moment
Physics term related to force.
The moment of the lever increases with distance.
Minute
A written record of a meeting.
She read the minutes of the last meeting.
Moment
A significant time.
Winning the award was a big moment in his career.
Minute
Extremely careful and precise.
The clockmaker's work is very minute.
Moment
A brief, indefinite interval of time.
Minute
A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of an hour, or 60 seconds.
Moment
A specific point in time, especially the present time
He is not here at the moment.
Minute
A unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of a degree, or 60 seconds. Also called arcminute, minute of arc.
Moment
A point in time that is gratifying or noteworthy
Even working on a dictionary has its moments.
Minute
A measure of the distance one can cover in a minute
Lives ten minutes from school.
Moment
An occasion affording an opportunity
Viewed the blunder as a teachable moment.
Minute
A short interval of time; moment.
Moment
A particular period of importance, influence, or significance in a series of events or developments
A great moment in history.
Waiting for her big moment.
Minute
A specific point in time
Stop that this minute!.
Moment
Outstanding significance or value; importance
A discovery of great moment.
Minute
A note or summary covering points to be remembered; a memorandum.
Moment
A brief period of time that is characterized by a quality, such as excellence, suitability, or distinction
A lackluster performance that nevertheless had its moments.
Minute
Minutes An official record of the proceedings of a meeting.
Moment
An essential or constituent element, as of a complex idea.
Minute
To record in a memorandum or the minutes of a meeting.
Moment
A phase or aspect of a logically developing process.
Minute
Exceptionally small; tiny.
Moment
The product of a quantity, such as force or mass, and its perpendicular distance from a reference point.
Minute
Not worthy of notice; insignificant
A minute problem.
Moment
The tendency to cause rotation about a point or axis.
Minute
Characterized by careful scrutiny and close examination
Held a minute inspection of the grounds.
Moment
(Statistics) The expected value of a positive integer power of a random variable. The first moment of a random variable is the mean of its probability distribution.
Minute
A unit of time equal to sixty seconds (one-sixtieth of an hour).
You have twenty minutes to complete the test.
Moment
A brief, unspecified amount of time.
Wait a moment, while I lock the front door.
Minute
(informal) A short but unspecified time period.
Wait a minute, I’m not ready yet!
Moment
The smallest portion of time; an instant.
Minute
A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a degree.
We need to be sure these maps are accurate to within one minute of arc.
Moment
(figurative) Weight or importance.
Minute
A (usually formal) written record of a meeting or a part of a meeting.
Let’s look at the minutes of last week’s meeting.
Moment
Ellipsis of moment of force
Minute
A unit of purchase on a telephone or other similar network, especially a cell phone network, roughly equivalent in gross form to sixty seconds' use of the network.
If you buy this model, you’ll get 100 free minutes.
Moment
A definite period of time, specifically one-tenth of a point, or one-fortieth or one-fiftieth of an hour.
Minute
A point in time; a moment.
Moment
A petit mal episode; such a spell.
Minute
A nautical or a geographic mile.
Moment
(colloquial) A fit; a brief tantrum.
Minute
An old coin, a half farthing.
Moment
(math) An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an increment or decrement.
Minute
(obsolete) A very small part of anything, or anything very small; a jot; a whit.
Moment
(math) A quantitative measure of the shape of a set of points.
If the points represent mass, then the zeroth moment is the total mass, the first moment divided by the total mass is the center of mass, and the second moment is the rotational inertia.
Minute
(architecture) A fixed part of a module.
Moment
(As in "X moment") An embarrassing event, supposed to be characteristic of some person, group, or situation.
Woman moment
Reddit moment
Minute
A while or a long unspecified period of time
Oh, I ain't heard that song in a minute!
Moment
A minute portion of time; a point of time; an instant; as, at that very moment.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
Minute
(transitive) Of an event, to write in a memo or the minutes of a meeting.
I’ll minute this evening’s meeting.
Moment
Impulsive power; force; momentum.
The moments or quantities of motion in bodies.
Touch, with lightest moment of impulse,His free will.
Minute
To set down a short sketch or note of; to jot down; to make a minute or a brief summary of.
Moment
Importance, as in influence or effect; consequence; weight or value; consideration.
Matters of great moment.
It is an abstruse speculation, but also of far less moment and consequence of us than the others.
Minute
Very small.
They found only minute quantities of chemical residue on his clothing.
Moment
An essential element; a deciding point, fact, or consideration; an essential or influential circumstance.
Minute
Very careful and exact, giving small details.
The lawyer gave the witness a minute examination.
Moment
An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an increment or decrement.
Minute
The sixtieth part of an hour; sixty seconds. (Abbrev. m. or min.; as, 4 h. 30 m.
Four minutes, that is to say, minutes of an hour.
Moment
Tendency, or measure of tendency, to produce motion, esp. motion about a fixed point or axis.
Minute
The sixtieth part of a degree; sixty seconds (Marked thus (´); as, 10° 20´).
Moment
A particular point in time;
The moment he arrived the party began
Minute
A nautical or a geographic mile.
Moment
An indefinitely short time;
Wait just a moment
It only takes a minute
In just a bit
Minute
A coin; a half farthing.
Moment
At this time;
The disappointments of the here and now
She is studying at the moment
Minute
A very small part of anything, or anything very small; a jot; a tittle.
Minutes and circumstances of his passion.
Moment
Having important effects or influence;
Decisions of great consequence are made by the president himself
Virtue is of more moment that security
Minute
A point of time; a moment.
I go this minute to attend the king.
Moment
The moment of a couple is the product of its force and the distance between its opposing forces
Minute
The memorandum; a record; a note to preserve the memory of anything; as, to take minutes of a contract; to take minutes of a conversation or debate; to read the minutes of the last meeting.
Moment
The n-th moment of a distribution is the expected value of the n-th power of the deviations from a fixed value
Minute
A fixed part of a module. See Module.
Minute
Of or pertaining to a minute or minutes; occurring at or marking successive minutes.
Minute
Very small; little; tiny; fine; slight; slender; inconsiderable; as, minute details.
Minute
Attentive to small things; paying attention to details; critical; particular; precise; as, a minute observer; minute observation.
Minute
To set down a short sketch or note of; to jot down; to make a minute or a brief summary of.
The Empress of Russia, with her own hand, minuted an edict for universal tolerance.
Minute
A unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour;
He ran a 4 minute mile
Minute
An indefinitely short time;
Wait just a moment
It only takes a minute
In just a bit
Minute
A particular point in time;
The moment he arrived the party began
Minute
A unit of angular distance equal to a 60th of a degree
Minute
A short note;
The secretary keeps the minutes of the meeting
Minute
Distance measured by the time taken to cover it;
We live an hour from the airport
Its just 10 minutes away
Minute
Infinitely or immeasurably small;
Two minute whiplike threads of protoplasm
Reduced to a microscopic scale
Minute
Immeasurably small
Minute
Characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination;
A minute inspection of the grounds
A narrow scrutiny
An exact and minute report
Common Curiosities
Is "minute" used only to describe time?
Primarily, but it can also describe something extremely small or the detailed minutes of a meeting.
Are moments always short?
Typically, yes, moments are brief but can vary subjectively in perceived duration.
Can a moment be measured in minutes?
A moment is an indefinite period and cannot be precisely measured in minutes.
Do both terms have scientific meanings?
Yes, but differently. "Moment" in physics relates to rotational forces, while "minute" is a unit of time.
What is a "momentous" occasion?
It refers to a highly significant or important occasion, highlighting the emotional weight of "moment."
Can "minute" have an emotional impact?
It's less common, as "minute" usually references the exact length of time without emotional connotations.
How do writers use the word "moment"?
Writers use "moment" to add dramatic weight or to pinpoint a significant time in a narrative.
What is typically longer, a moment or a minute?
A minute is a fixed duration of sixty seconds, typically longer than the subjective, brief period referred to as a moment.
Why might someone use "moment" instead of "minute" in a conversation?
"Moment" might be used to emphasize the emotional or significant nature of a time period, unlike the precise and emotionless "minute".
What is a "minute" detail?
It refers to a very small or minutely detailed aspect of something.
Is it correct to say "Give me a moment"?
Yes, it's a common way to request a short pause or break.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
