evanescent

[ ev-uh-nes-uhnt ]

adjective

1. vanishing; fading away; fleeting.
2. tending to become imperceptible; scarcely perceptible.

evanescent

/ ˌɛvəˈnɛsənt /

adjective

1. passing out of sight; fading away; vanishing
2. ephemeral or transitory

Derived Forms

• ˌevaˈnescently, adverb
• ˌevaˈnescence, noun

Other Words From

• ev·a·nes·cence noun
• ev·a·nes·cent·ly adverb
• non·ev·a·nes·cent adjective
• non·ev·a·nes·cent·ly adverb
• un·ev·a·nes·cent adjective
• un·ev·a·nes·cent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of evanescent¹

First recorded in 1700–1805; from Latin ēvānēscent- (stem of ēvānēscēns ) “vanishing, disappearing”; evanesce, -ent

Example Sentences

And always in the background, evanescent but, in the end, accountable, is Rupert Murdoch—courted, feared and sometimes loathed.

From The Daily Beast

But that support was evanescent; it's already back below 50%, and probably still falling.

From The Daily Beast

They are imagined as disembodied spirits, and are often visualized as vague or evanescent forms; hence, the white sheet routine.

From The Daily Beast

When he does, for short walks on moonless nights or for the occasional meal, these evanescent periods of freedom are thrilling.

From The Daily Beast

But success in a mission of this size may only bring limited and evanescent political benefits.

From The Daily Beast

There are those who think that this excitement among the people will prove transitory and evanescent.

From Project Gutenberg

What a pity that they are as evanescent as the bloom of these flowers and the fragrance they exhale!

From Project Gutenberg

Its nature is like opaline dove's-neck lustres, hovering and evanescent.

From Project Gutenberg

Splits and rents broke into the margin, and from each streamed the evanescent, azure vapour.

From Project Gutenberg

A "brilliant display," we would say, and the observer would be kept busy following the track of the evanescent rays.

From Project Gutenberg