fleeting

adjective

fleet·​ing ˈflē-tiŋ How to pronounce fleeting (audio)
: passing swiftly : transitory
… the often fleeting nature of fame and fortune …Tom Sinclair
fleetingly adverb
fleetingness noun
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 Fame and love aren’t the only things that are fleeting. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024 Nicole Scherzinger sounds like a kid desperately clinging to those last fleeting moments of summer break before school starts. Brent Lang, Variety, 19 Sep. 2024 Each March and September, this dramatic display draws spectators from far and wide, eager to witness this fleeting moment where nature and legend intertwine. Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 19 Sep. 2024 Many of these interactions are fleeting; a stranger that becomes an acquaintance and then, later, a distant memory. Forbes Video, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fleeting 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fleeting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fleeting was in 1563

Dictionary Entries Near fleeting

Cite this Entry

“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleeting. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

fleeting

adjective
fleet·​ing
ˈflēt-iŋ
: not lasting : passing swiftly
a fleeting glimpse

More from Merriam-Webster on fleeting

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