Phrase guide

for the nonce

prep_phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /nɒn(t)s/
  • UK: nŏn(t)s
  • General-American: /nɑn(t)s/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

For the time being, for now, with the expectation that the situation may change.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • That will do for the nonce, but we'll need a better answer for the long term.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English for þe nones, for þe nanes, a rebracketing of earlier for þen ānes (literally “for the once”).

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 暫且 /暂且 (zànqiě) — for the time being
  • Chinese Mandarin: 權且 /权且 (quánqiě) — for the time being
  • Esperanto: nuntempe — for the time being
  • French: pour le moment — for the time being
  • German: für den Augenblick — for the time being
  • German: für den augenblicklichen Zweck — for the time being
  • German: für den Moment — for the time being
  • German: einstweilen — for the time being
  • Icelandic: í þetta sinn — for the time being
  • Italian: per il momento — for the time being
  • Polish: na razie — for the time being
  • Polish: póki co — for the time being
  • Portuguese: por agora — for the time being
  • Romanian: deocamdată — for the time being
  • Romanian: pentru moment — for the time being
  • Russian: пока́ что (poká što) — for the time being
  • Russian: в данном случае — for the time being
  • Spanish: por esta vez — for the time being
  • Swedish: för tillfället — for the time being
  • Swedish: för stunden — for the time being
  • Swedish: för närvarande — for the time being