adj
Uncommon
fleeting
FLEE-tihng
Fleeting (adj) means lasting only a very short time; passing quickly. Example: “She caught a fleeting glimpse of him through the crowd.”
adj
1
Lasting only a very short time; passing quickly.
"She caught a fleeting glimpse of him through the crowd."
"Fame like that is often fleeting."
How to use fleeting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething fleeting doesn't stick around — a fleeting moment, feeling, or glance is gone almost as soon as it arrives.
Common pairings
fleeting glimpse
fleeting moment
fleeting glance
fleeting thought
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more fleeting
- Superlative
- most fleeting
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She caught a _____ glimpse of him through the crowd.
Etymology
From the Old English verb fleotan ("to float, glide"); the sense shifted from physical gliding to something that slips past quickly in time.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fleeting
meeting
dieting
greeting
riveting
tweeting
marketing
competing
picketing
fidgeting
carpeting
targeting
trumpeting
See all rhymes for fleeting →
Frequently asked questions
What does “fleeting” mean?
The word “fleeting” means lasting only a very short time; passing quickly. In plain terms, something fleeting doesn't stick around — a fleeting moment, feeling, or glance is gone almost as soon as it arrives.
How do you pronounce “fleeting”?
“Fleeting” is pronounced FLEE-tihng (/ˈfliːtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fleeting” in a sentence?
Here is “fleeting” used in a sentence: “She caught a fleeting glimpse of him through the crowd.”
What part of speech is “fleeting”?
“Fleeting” is an adjective.
Where does the word “fleeting” come from?
The word “fleeting” comes from Old English. From the Old English verb fleotan ("to float, glide"); the sense shifted from physical gliding to something that slips past quickly in time.
Is “fleeting” a common word?
“Fleeting” is an uncommon word in modern English.
