fleet

verb

\ ˈflēt

fleeted; fleeting; fleets

Definition of fleet

(Entry 1 of 3)

intransitive verb

1 obsolete : drift

2a archaic : flow

b : to fade away : vanish

3 [ ³fleet ] : to fly swiftly clouds fleeting across the sky

transitive verb

: to cause (time) to pass usually quickly or imperceptibly many young gentlemen … fleet the time carelessly— William Shakespeare

fleet

noun

Definition of fleet (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a number of warships under a single command specifically : an organization of ships and aircraft under the command of a flag officer

2 : group sense 2a especially : a group (as of ships, planes, or trucks) operated under unified control

fleet

adjective

Definition of fleet (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : swift in motion : nimble

2 : fleeting

Other Words from fleet Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about fleet

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Choose the Right Synonym for fleet

Adjective

fast, rapid, swift, fleet, quick, speedy, hasty, expeditious mean moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity. fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves fast horses and rapid to the movement itself. rapid current swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement. returned the ball with one swift stroke fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness. fleet runners quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time. a quick wit speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment speedy delivery of mail and may also suggest unusual velocity. hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness. a hasty inspection expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment. the expeditious handling of an order

Examples of fleet in a Sentence

Noun

He was the commander of the Pacific fleet. The company has a large fleet of delivery trucks.

Adjective

a jewel thief said to be light of heart and fleet of foot

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Like most pleasures, the perfect texture is fleeting. — Bee Wilson, WSJ, "Textures That Delight and Disgust," 21 Feb. 2019 Some bags are serious investments, and others are fleeting dalliances. — Tina Craig, Harper's BAZAAR, "How to Shop for Vintage Bags," 5 Aug. 2015 Fashion now moves at an unprecedented rate; the trend cycle is mind-bogglingly fast-paced, investors are demanding, and customer attention is fleeting. — Chavie Lieber, Vox, "The Calvin Klein brand hired big-name fashion designer Raf Simons to build relevancy. Now he’s out.," 27 Dec. 2018 Most high-school relationships are fleeting, burning bright for a few months before fizzling to their anti-climactic death. — Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, "The Item I Wear to Death: My White Slip-On Keds," 3 Oct. 2018 Sidewalk chalk, like time or the availability of your fave Netflix series, is fleeting. — Marielle Wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "The 5 Best Things to Do in L.A. This Weekend," 14 June 2018 Unfortunately, those moments are fleeting on Testing. — Andreas Hale, Billboard, "5 Things We Learned After Our First Listen to A$AP Rocky's 'Testing' Album," 25 May 2018 Even three years later, in the area where his truck was recovered, phone service is fleeting. — Jason Pohl, azcentral, "From missing to legally dead: The search for Sheriff's Office posse member Sam Grider," 12 Jan. 2018 Now that the operational testing phase has begun, StormBreakers should be arming the USAF fighters fleet in the near term. — Allison Barrie, Fox News, "StormBreaker: Powerful bomb penetrates bad weather, spells bad news for bad guys," 27 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The removal comes about a week after competitor Lime removed its fleet. — Ethan May, Indianapolis Star, "Bird scooters are being removed from Indianapolis. Here's what could happen next.," 12 July 2018 Some 300 buses of the 1,540-vehicle fleet were sidelined because of damage or maintenance backlogs last week, as workers rehabbed them around the clock. — Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Metro buses still on reduced snow schedules while slush brings new driving risks," 12 Feb. 2019 Seven million vehicles is less than three percent of the US fleet. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "GM wants alternative to fuel economy standards from Obama, rollback from Trump," 28 Oct. 2018 At least 20 percent of the Hyderabad store’s delivery fleet will be electric rickshaws. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Ikea’s first store in India offers delivery by solar-powered rickshaws," 13 Aug. 2018 Russian forces without identifying insignia, along with military vehicles, began to appear on the thoroughfares of Crimea, home of Russia’s Black Sea fleet. — Jeré Longman, New York Times, "Stuck in Soccer Limbo, in the Shadow of the World Cup," 2 July 2018 Rolls-Royce at The Peninsula Hong KongThe Peninsula has a longstanding reputation for its extensive fleet of BMWs, Mini Coopers, and the world’s largest collection of Rolls-Royce cars owned by a hotel. — Mara Balagtas, Condé Nast Traveler, "Forget Old-School 'House Cars': These Hotels Will Have You Riding in Incredible Luxury Vehicles," 10 Aug. 2018 There are also 10 American patrol craft based in Bahrain at the headquarters for the U.S. Navy’s 5th fleet. — Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News, "Iran deploys 50 small boats to Strait of Hormuz for large-scale 'swarming' exercise," 2 Aug. 2018 Suddenly Japan was left without any viable replacement for its fleet of air superiority fighters. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Now Northrop Grumman Wants to Build Japan's New Fighter Jet," 9 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Almost two decades later, fire-prone batteries stemming from fundamental design and systems-engineering mistakes prompted regulators in 2013 to temporarily ground Boeing’s flagship 787 Dreamliner fleet world-wide. — Andy Pasztor, WSJ, "Boeing Leadership Faces PR Hurdles After Lion Air Crash," 5 Dec. 2018 The mano-a-mano match race finals, in which one yacht might simply sail away from the other and on to victory, might not be as thrilling as fleet races, which have multiple boats jostling in tight quarters. — Luke O'brien, Town & Country, "Hot Pursuit," 1 Sep. 2013 As its fleet ages, RTA seeks federal money for new buses, paratransit vehicles The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority has lost out on a nearly $20 million federal grant to help boost its bus fleet, according to the agency's manager, Transdev. — Marie Simoneaux, NOLA.com, "S&WB says drainage system performed 'very well' Saturday, full assessment coming," 14 Apr. 2018 Several girls cross country teams from the area are in the running for regional and state championships but locals are chasing Northern Kentucky's fleetest afoot: St. Henry in Class A, Highlands in Class 2A and Class 3A's Simon Kenton. — Marc Hardin, Cincinnati.com, "St. Henry, Highlands, SK girls cross country the teams to chase in NKY," 25 Aug. 2017 While Onyewu and Elliott aren't the fleetest of foot, both are rarely out of position. — Marc Narducci, Philly.com, "Union's five-game unbeaten surge built on key position changes," 19 May 2017 Yokosuka is one of the most important military ports in the Pacific, home to both the U.S. 7th Fleet and the fleet headquarters of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces, Japan's navy. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Two U.S. Aircraft Carriers Are Now Prowling the Pacific," 17 May 2017 Steve Kudla is probably known as the fleetest flavorist around McCormick and Company after his performance in a 5K race last Saturday. — Bill Blewett, The Aegis, "Steve Kudla loves running and Old Bay," 25 May 2017 In fast and fleet fashion, Pohjonen zipped through the outer movements, producing a good deal of color and subtly underlining the score's jazz elements. — Tim Smith, baltimoresun.com, "Atmosphere, virtuosity in BSO program with Markus Stenz, Juho Pohjonen," 5 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fleet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.