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

High penetration, flat pricing, and fleeting loyalty demand a new path forward. —Astha Bhardwaj, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025

In a fashion world increasingly dominated by fast trends and fleeting styles, vintage curators are pushing back—championing quality, history, and individuality. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025

Folks who may have been fleeting presences, or reduced to talking heads in tiny squares on a group Zoom — like the secretary of defense (Jared Harris) or a fresh-faced deputy national security adviser (The Night Agent‘s Gabriel Basso) — become lead protagonists. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025

Brandi Carlile begins her new album with a verse raising the issue of mortality, and the question of what a godly design for these fleeting lives might be, if any at all. —Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Oct. 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