Fleeting
ˈfliːtɪŋ
Definitions
Lasting for a short time; momentary.
ˈfliːtɪŋ
Lasting for a very short time.
The joy was fleeting, quickly replaced by sadness.
💡 Simply: Imagine you see a shooting star—it's fleeting! It's gone in a blink of an eye. It's something that doesn't last long.
👶 For kids: Like a little puff of smoke! It's there for a second, then it's gone.
More Examples
She had a fleeting thought about calling him.
The summer days seemed fleeting.
How It's Used
"He caught a fleeting glimpse of her in the crowd."
"The fleeting beauty of a sunset."
"The fleeting nature of time."
Idioms & expressions
fleeting fancy
A short-lived infatuation or interest.
"It was just a fleeting fancy, nothing serious."
fleeting moment
A very short but significant period of time.
"In that fleeting moment, everything changed."
From Middle English *fletynge*, present participle of *fleten* (“to float, pass quickly”).
Used in literature and poetry to describe the temporary nature of beauty, joy, and life experiences.
Memory tip
Think of a fleet of ships—they pass quickly.
Word Origin
"to float, pass quickly"