fleeting

[flee-ting]

adjective

1. passing swiftly; vanishing quickly; transient; transitory.

   fleeting beauty;

   a fleeting glance.

   Synonyms: fugitive, brief, flying, passing

fleeting

/ ˈfliːtɪŋ /

adjective

1. rapid and transient

   a fleeting glimpse of the sea

Other Word Forms

• fleetingly adverb
• fleetingness noun
• unfleeting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fleeting¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; fleet ² + -ing ²

Example Sentences

The Nazi family making fleeting appearances in the play underscores the brutal conformity demanded by fascism.

From Los Angeles Times

“That’s what history tells us: we can have short-term impact with shocks to the system like this, but they tend to be fleeting.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Some of em last for a long time if we’re lucky, but most of them are fleeting,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

The evangelical mixing of musical genres and geography had its touristy elements; however engaging and engrossing the wonder-making, it was always fleeting.

From Los Angeles Times

Look closer, though, and the effect is fleeting.

From Salon

Related Words

• cursory 
• ephemeral 
• fading 
• momentary 
• short-lived 
• sudden 
• transitory