adjective
meteoric
mee-tee-O-rihk
Meteoric (adjective) means Extremely rapid, dazzling, and often short-lived, like a meteor streaking across the sky. Example: “The band had a meteoric rise to fame after their song went viral.”
adjective
1
Extremely rapid, dazzling, and often short-lived, like a meteor streaking across the sky.
"The band had a meteoric rise to fame after their song went viral."
"His meteoric career in politics ended almost as suddenly as it began."
2
Relating to meteors or to weather in the atmosphere.
"The observatory tracks meteoric activity every August."
How to use meteoric
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that happens incredibly fast and dramatically, often too fast to last.
Common mistake
Almost always used for a rise (in fame, success, or a career) — "meteoric fall" sounds odd, since the word carries a sense of dazzling ascent.
Common pairings
meteoric rise
meteoric success
meteoric career
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more meteoric
- Superlative
- most meteoric
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The band had a _____ rise to fame after their song went viral.
Etymology
From meteor + the adjective suffix -ic.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for meteoric
See all rhymes for meteoric →Frequently asked questions
What does “meteoric” mean?
The word “meteoric” means extremely rapid, dazzling, and often short-lived, like a meteor streaking across the sky. In plain terms, something that happens incredibly fast and dramatically, often too fast to last.
How do you pronounce “meteoric”?
“Meteoric” is pronounced mee-tee-O-rihk (/ˌmiːtiˈɒɹɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “meteoric” in a sentence?
Here is “meteoric” used in a sentence: “The band had a meteoric rise to fame after their song went viral.”
What part of speech is “meteoric”?
“Meteoric” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “meteoric” have?
“Meteoric” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely rapid, dazzling, and often short-lived, like a meteor streaking across the sky.
