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

Celebrini’s rise to stardom has been meteoric since departing the Bay Area for one season at Boston University as a 17-year-old. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026

That chance encounter led to auditions, early roles, and eventually one of Hollywood’s most meteoric rises. —Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 Feb. 2026

Emmy winner Paris Barclay‘s 105-minute chronicle of the meteoric rise and tragic fall of Billy Preston is a treasure trove for classic rock and soul music fans. —Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026

The meteoric rise and fall of the Beam Team has been astonishing. —Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for meteoric

• anaphoric
• metaphoric
• paregoric
• prehistoric
• pyrophoric
• boric
• chloric
• doric
• toric
• caloric
• dysphoric
• euphoric

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