transient

¹tran·sient

adj
\-sh(ē-)ənt, -zē-ənt, -sē-; -zhənt, -jənt\

Definition of TRANSIENT

1

a : passing especially quickly into and out of existence : transitory <transient beauty> b : passing through or by a place with only a brief stay or sojourn <transient visitors>

2

: affecting something or producing results beyond itself

— tran·sient·ly adverb

Examples of TRANSIENT

1. <had transient thoughts of suicide but never acted upon them>

Origin of TRANSIENT

Latin transeunt-, transiens, present participle of transire to cross, pass by, from trans- + ire to go — more at issue

First Known Use: 1599

Related to TRANSIENT

Synonyms: brief, deciduous, ephemeral, evanescent, flash, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing, short-lived, temporary, momentary, transitory

Antonyms: ceaseless, dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, lasting, long-lived, permanent, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending

Related Words: little, short, shortish; acting, interim, provisional, short-term

Near Antonyms: lifelong; continuing, durable, persistent; imperishable, indefectible, indestructible

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Synonym Discussion of TRANSIENT

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>.

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