The words temporarily or temporally look and sound similar, but they have different meanings and are used in different situations. Both come from the word time, which is one reason they are easy to confuse. Temporarily usually means for a limited period or not permanently, while temporally means in relation to time or temporal matters. Although they look/sound similar, they serve completely different purposes. Knowing the difference between temporarily or temporally can help you avoid awkward or incorrect word choices in professional, academic, scientific, and everyday writing. In this guide, we’ll explain the meaning, grammar, examples, common mistakes, and practical rules for each word. By the end, you’ll have a simple way to remember when to use temporarily and when temporally is the better choice.
What Is “Temporarily”?
Temporarily is an adverb meaning for a limited amount of time, rather than permanently.
It comes from the adjective temporary.
Common Uses of Temporarily
You can use temporarily when something:
- Exists for a short period
- Stops for a limited time
- Changes for a while
- Is unavailable for a certain period
- Is intended to be replaced or reversed later
Example Sentences
“The store is temporarily closed.”
“She is temporarily staying with her relatives.”
“The website was temporarily unavailable.”
“The road is temporarily closed for repairs.”
In each example, the important idea is that the situation will not last forever.
Grammar
Temporarily modifies a verb, adjective, or entire statement.
For example:
- The office closed temporarily.
- The service is temporarily unavailable.
- He temporarily moved to another city.
The related forms are:
- Temporary — adjective
- Temporarily — adverb
What Is “Temporally”?
Temporally is an adverb meaning in relation to time or with respect to temporal order or duration.
It comes from the adjective temporal.
Unlike temporarily, temporally does not normally mean “for a short time.”
Common Uses of Temporally
You may encounter temporally in:
- Academic writing
- Philosophy
- History
- Science
- Linguistics
- Psychology
- Research
- Technical writing
Example Sentences
“The two events are temporally related.”
“The study examined how the behavior changed temporally.”
“The two developments occurred temporally close to each other.”
Here, temporally relates to time, timing, sequence, or duration.
Grammar
Temporally is the adverb form of temporal.
Examples include:
- temporally related
- temporally separated
- temporally ordered
- temporally distinct
Temporarily or Temporally: Key Differences
When comparing temporarily or temporally, focus on the basic question you’re trying to answer.
- Temporarily = for a limited time.
- Temporally = in relation to time.
- Temporarily usually describes a temporary condition or action.
- Temporally usually describes the timing, sequence, or relationship between events.
- Temporary and temporarily are related to something not being permanent.
- Temporal and temporally are related to time itself.
- Temporarily is common in everyday English.
- Temporally is more common in academic, technical, or formal writing.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Temporarily | Temporally |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meaning | For a limited time | In relation to time |
| Root adjective | Temporary | Temporal |
| Main idea | Not permanent | Related to time |
| Common usage | Everyday English | Academic/technical English |
| Example | “The store is temporarily closed.” | “The events are temporally related.” |
| Opposite/contrast | Permanently | Spatially, in some contexts |
| Typical question | “For how long?” | “How does it relate in time?” |
Real-Life Conversation Examples
Dialogue 1: Closed Store
Person 1: “Why is the store closed?”
Person 2: “It’s temporarily closed for repairs.”
🎯 Lesson: Use temporarily when something is happening only for a limited period.
Dialogue 2: Research
Researcher 1: “How were the two events connected?”
Researcher 2: “They were temporally related, meaning their timing was connected.”
🎯 Lesson: Use temporally when discussing a relationship involving time.
Dialogue 3: Website Problem
Person 1: “Is the website permanently down?”
Person 2: “No, it’s temporarily unavailable.”
🎯 Lesson: Temporarily means the situation isn’t expected to be permanent.
Dialogue 4: Historical Events
Person 1: “Did these events happen around the same period?”
Person 2: “Yes, they were temporally close.”
🎯 Lesson: Temporally can describe the timing or chronological relationship between events.
When to Use Temporarily or Temporally
Use “Temporarily” for Something Not Permanent
Use temporarily when you mean:
“For a while, but not forever.”
Examples:
“The employee is temporarily absent.”
“The service has been temporarily suspended.”
“The building is temporarily unavailable.”
Use “Temporally” for Time Relationships
Use temporally when you’re discussing:
- Timing
- Sequence
- Chronology
- Duration
- Relationships between events in time
Examples:
“The events were temporally separated.”
“The researchers analyzed the data temporally.”
Easy Memory Trick
Remember:
Temporarily = temporary
Temporally = temporal
Or even simpler:
Temporarily = not forever.
Temporally = about time.
This distinction will work in most situations.
Temporarily vs Temporally in Everyday English
In everyday conversations, temporarily is much more common.
You might say:
“The elevator is temporarily out of service.”
But you would rarely say:
“The elevator is temporally out of service.”
That sentence sounds unnatural because you’re talking about a temporary condition, not a relationship involving time.
Temporally is more likely to appear in specialized writing.
For example:
“The two observations were temporally separated.”
This means they occurred at different times.
Temporarily or Temporally in Academic Writing
Both words can appear in academic writing, but they communicate different ideas.
Consider:
“The treatment was temporarily discontinued.”
This means the treatment stopped for a limited period.
Now consider:
“The measurements were temporally separated.”
This means the measurements occurred at different points in time.
The distinction is subtle but important.
Temporally vs Temporarily in Science
In scientific contexts, temporally is often useful when researchers describe the timing of observations or events.
For example:
“The changes were temporally associated with the intervention.”
This discusses a relationship based on when things occurred.
By contrast:
“The equipment was temporarily removed.”
This means the equipment was removed for a limited period.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “Temporally” to Mean “Temporarily”
This is the most common error.
❌ “The office is temporally closed.”
✅ “The office is temporarily closed.”
Mistake 2: Thinking Both Words Mean “For a Short Time”
Only temporarily directly communicates the idea of something lasting for a limited period.
Mistake 3: Avoiding “Temporally” Because It Sounds Formal
Temporally is a legitimate English word. It is simply more specialized.
Mistake 4: Confusing “Temporal” With “Temporary”
These adjectives are related historically but have different modern meanings.
- Temporary = lasting for a limited time.
- Temporal = relating to time.
Fun Facts or History
1. Both Words Are Related to Time
Both temporary and temporal ultimately connect to Latin roots associated with time.
Their meanings developed differently in English.
2. “Temporal” Has Multiple Uses
In addition to meaning “related to time,” temporal can have specialized meanings in areas such as philosophy, religion, anatomy, and linguistics.
That is why temporally can appear in many different academic contexts.
Conclusion
The difference between temporarily or temporally is easy to understand once you connect each adverb with its root adjective. Temporarily means for a limited period and not permanently, making it common in everyday situations such as temporarily closing a store or temporarily suspending a service. Temporally, on the other hand, means in relation to time, and it is more common in academic, scientific, philosophical, and technical writing. When you mean “for a while,” choose temporarily. When you’re describing the timing, sequence, or relationship of events, choose temporally. Remember: temporarily means “not forever,” while temporally means “related to time.”