meteoric

adjective

me·​te·​or·​ic ˌmē-tē-ˈȯr-ik 

-ˈär-

1

a

: of or relating to a meteor

b

: resembling a meteor in speed or in sudden and temporary brilliance

a meteoric rise to fame

2

: of, relating to, or derived from the earth's atmosphere

meteoric water

meteorically

ˌmē-tē-ˈȯr-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈär-

adverb

Examples of meteoric in a Sentence

a meteoric rise to fame

Recent Examples on the Web

Chipmakers were bound to hit a rough patch after such a meteoric rise, Bret Kenwell, an investing analyst at eToro, told ABC News. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 23 June 2026

May’s rise in coaching has been meteoric, particularly the last four seasons. —Schuyler Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026

From there, his rise was meteoric. —Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 June 2026

The site was chosen for the Obama family's deep roots in the neighborhood, both in their lives before political prominence and after President Barack Obama's meteoric rise to lead the nation. —CBS News, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for meteoric

• caloric
• dysphoric
• euphoric
• historic
• plethoric
• pyloric
• anaphoric
• metaphoric
• paregoric
• prehistoric
• pyrophoric
• boric

Kids Definition

meteoric

adjective

me·​te·​or·​ic ˌmēt-ē-ˈȯr-ik 

-ˈär-

1

: of or relating to a meteor

a meteoric shower

2

: resembling a meteor in speed or in sudden and temporary brilliance

a meteoric rise to fame

meteorically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb