fleeting

adjective

fleet·​ing ˈflē-tiŋ 

: passing swiftly : transitory

… the often fleeting nature of fame and fortune …

—Tom Sinclair

fleetingly

ˈflē-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

fleetingness noun

Synonyms

• brief
• deciduous
• ephemeral
• evanescent
• flash
• fugacious
• fugitive
• impermanent
• momentary
• passing
• short-lived
• temporary
• transient
• transitory

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

But happiness is increasingly fleeting in the U.S., including here in California. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

Those books that just are about something more than just fleeting things, those are the ones that stand the test of time. —Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024

Looking ahead The influx of women in business management is not merely a fleeting trend. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

Another effect falling temperatures may have will be the appearance of a fleeting thunderstorm, as cooler air closer to the ground pushes warmer more humid air upward, where moisture then condenses and rains out. —TIME, 25 Mar. 2024

Understandably, the queen assumes the decision is Wilhelm’s reactive –– and fleeting –– ploy to reunite with Simon (Omar Rudberg), who ended their relationship in the penultimate episode after expressing his fears that the pressures of the crown were changing Wilhelm and himself. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024

Timeless Designs: Creating Wardrobes That Last In an industry characterized by fleeting trends, 300 Oferta focuses on crafting timeless designs that transcend seasonal fashion. —Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024

As much as Martell shattered a glass ceiling in country, her moment would prove to be fleeting. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2024

Although the moment Swift and Kelce left their lunch date was fleeting and the photo will probably never be hung in a museum, the simple act of wearing the handbag comes with a story years in the making that will be added to the Joseph Duclos legacy. —Bryan West, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fleeting

adjective

fleet·​ing

ˈflēt-iŋ

: not lasting : passing swiftly

a fleeting glimpse