fleeting

adjective

fleet·​ing ˈflē-tiŋ 

: passing swiftly : transitory

… the often fleeting nature of fame and fortune …

—Tom Sinclair

fleetingly

ˈflē-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

fleetingness noun

Synonyms

• flash
• brief
• temporary
• transient
• passing
• transitory
• ephemeral
• momentary
• evanescent

Choose the Right Synonym for fleeting

transient, transitory, ephemeral, momentary, fugitive, fleeting, evanescent mean lasting or staying only a short time.

transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.

fame in the movies is transitory

ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.

my feelings of guilt were only momentary

fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face

fleeting moments of joy

evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

Examples of fleeting in a Sentence

I caught a fleeting glimpse of the comet.

had a fleeting desire to jump into the cool lake but kept on hiking

Recent Examples on the Web

Key for energy stocks has been a drop in crude prices, despite a fleeting uptick in June as conflict in the Middle East dominated headlines. —Matt Ward-Perkins, CNBC, 14 July 2025

The coordination involved in creating this disposable party favor, for the fleeting delight of millionaires, was just one of a thousand details that Vanity Fair devoted to each year’s extravaganza. —Michael Grynbaum, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025

What begins the dream of a hair transplant in Turkey becomes a tender road movie and a fleeting love story without labels. —Rance Collins, IndieWire, 12 July 2025

His first-time assist against RKC Waalwijk in January showed a sharp appreciation for when a quick pass can capitalise on a fleeting opportunity: His defensive metrics also paint a picture of a player who has quickly adapted to the demands of playing as a lone pivot. —Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fleeting

• beating
• bleating
• cheating
• eating
• greeting
• heating
• meeting
• seating
• sheeting
• sweeting
• treating
• accreting

Kids Definition

fleeting

adjective

fleet·​ing

ˈflēt-iŋ

: not lasting : passing swiftly

a fleeting glimpse