Dictionary
fleeting
adjective fleet·ing \ˈflē-tiŋ\
: not lasting : lasting for only a short time
Full Definition of FLEETING
See fleeting defined for English-language learners
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First Known Use of FLEETING
1563
Related to FLEETING
- Synonyms
- brief, deciduous, ephemeral, evanescent, flash, momentary, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitory
Synonym Discussion of 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>.
FLEETING Defined for Kids
fleeting
adjective fleet·ing \ˈflē-tiŋ\
Definition of FLEETING for Kids
: passing by quickly <a fleeting instant>
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