fleeting

adjective

fleet·​ing ˈflē-tiŋ How to pronounce fleeting (audio)
Synonyms of fleetingnext
: passing swiftly : transitory
… the often fleeting nature of fame and fortune …— Tom Sinclair
fleetingly
ˈflē-tiŋ-lē How to pronounce fleeting (audio)
adverb
fleetingness noun

Synonyms

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While the camp’s Cold War importance was fleeting — the US military abandoned Camp Century in the late 1960s after less than a decade in operation — the cutting-edge scientific work conducted there, in fields such as geophysics and paleoclimatology, has had enduring impacts. — Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025 But that relief could be fleeting if widening trade wars reignite higher costs. — Axios, 12 Mar. 2025 According to Style Editors 14 Slides By Jake Henry Smith View Slideshow How to style clogs for spring-summer 2025 Although trends are fleeting, the return of clogs is one that will definitely carry over well into summer and fall—and maybe even next spring. — Casandra Maggio, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2025 Many other parents advised staying present because moments with young children are fleeting. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fleeting

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fleeting was in 1563

Rhymes for fleeting

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Browse Nearby Words

fleeting
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Cite this Entry

“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleeting. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

fleeting

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

More from Merriam-Webster on fleeting

Nglish: Translation of fleeting for Spanish Speakers

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