fleeting

adjective

fleet·​ing ˈflē-tiŋ How to pronounce fleeting (audio)
Synonyms of fleeting
: 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 of fleeting

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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.
And his space adventure became a fleeting moment of hope just as Afghanistan descended into civil war, forcing millions of his countrymen and countrywomen into exile. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026 According to Rouse, the album grew out of observations gathered while traveling, with its songs populated by drifters, dreamers and fleeting encounters that blur the line between fiction and autobiography. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026 The project’s goals include giving long-term sustenance to successful but fleeting smaller efforts. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 This time, the moon’s shadow will sweep from northern Russia across Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain and a tiny corner of Portugal, offering millions in Europe another chance to witness the fleeting phenomenon of totality. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 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

fleet in being
fleeting
fleetingly
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Cite this Entry

“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleeting. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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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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