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Glite Dictionary
for the time being

for the time being

106 3.4
For now until the situation changes
  • idiom
translation icon : por el momento
  • We have decided to postpone the event for the time being due to safety concerns.
  • at least for the time being
  • unable for the time being
  • only for the time being

It's knowledge that for the time being, only exists in people's brains.

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Examples

  • So for the time being, our house move has been postponed.

  • I think the building's okay, at least for the time being.

    Game 6 (2006)

  • But for the time being, what does that mean about A?

  • Well, you are home for the time being at least.

    Payday (1973)

  • -All right, we'll leave it at that for the time being, anyway.

    Criminally Insane (1975)

  • And Mexico may not have much room for choice in the matter for the time being.

    Academic text (1997)

  • Well, you can come home with me for the time being.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Regardless, for the time being, please let her stay at your house.

    Death Club (2023)

  • You can borrow my van for the time being.

    Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

  • For the time being, sure.

    Lockout (2012)

Synonyms

for a while
vsfor the time being
∞ 1.0

For a short time

is more open, applying until a future change rather than fixed brief time
temporarily
vsfor the time being
222 3.2

For a short time and not permanent

is the idiomatic multiword way used instead in many contexts
for the moment
vsfor the time being
189 3.4

For a short time that is not meant to last

is broader, covering until something changes rather than only immediate now
anay
vsfor the time being
9.9

For a short time

is the standard idiomatic multiword way to express that temporary state
ad interim
vsfor the time being
  • Formal
8.5

For a short time until a permanent one takes over

is the informal, everyday way to say the same temporary status

Antonyms

forever
∞ 1.0

For all time without end

permanently
218 2.9

Stays the same for all time

How Temporary

briefly
414 1.0
for the moment
189 3.4
for the time being
106 3.4

Surface Forms

for the time being positive

Morphology

for + the + time + being

The meaning 'for now; temporarily' is directly and compositionally derivable from the constituents: 'for' (duration), 'time' (a period) and 'being' (the current state of existence), yielding 'for the current time.' This is a common, literal temporal construction with close equivalents in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the component words will almost always infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

For the time being paints a simple picture: time means the current moment and being means 'existing' in that moment. So it literally says 'for the moment something exists', and that is why it means 'for now' or 'temporarily'.