fleeting

1 of 3

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

fleeting

2 of 3

present participle of fleet entry 3

fleetingness

3 of 3

noun

fleet·​ing·​ness
plural -es
: the quality or state of being fleeting

Synonyms of fleeting

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
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

Adjective 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.
Adjective
Over the decades, Ernaux has examined class shame through close observation of her parents’ lives, accounted for all-consuming romantic obsession, and transcribed fleeting encounters in supermarkets and trains in the Paris suburbs. — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2026 Democrats see a fleeting opportunity to shake up the electoral map, targeting Republicans strongholds like Texas and Kansas. — Mary Beth Gahan, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2026 But pieces from those fleeting years, like the rain boots and their memories, move forward with us. — Stephanie Cook Broadhurst, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. 2026 Time is one of Butler’s preoccupations—its fleeting nature, its nonlinear experience, its rubberbanding effect on our perception. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fleeting

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleeting. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fleeting

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