# fleet

/ˈfɫit/ (US) · /flˈiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fleet
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. group of ships or vehicles

noun · CEFR B2

a large group of ships, airplanes, or cars that are controlled by one organization or country.

For teachers: a number of vessels, aircraft, or vehicles operating together or under the same ownership.

- The company owns a large fleet of delivery trucks that operate across the country.
- The naval fleet remained stationed in the international waters, serving as a strategic deterrent during the diplomatic negotiations.

### 2. fast and light

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

moving very quickly and lightly.

For teachers: characterised by rapid and light movement; often used in literary contexts to describe animals or runners.

- The fleet deer disappeared into the thick forest before the hikers could take a photo.
- The athlete was known for being fleet of foot, easily outpacing his rivals in the final hundred metres of the race.

### 3. to pass quickly

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to move fast or to disappear quickly, like time passing by.

For teachers: to move or pass swiftly; to fade or vanish rapidly.

- The beautiful summer days seemed to fleet away too soon.
- Youthful beauty is a fleeting thing, destined to fleet as the decades advance.

### 4. inlet or creek

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · British English

a small stream or a narrow arm of the sea.

For teachers: a shallow inlet, creek, or stream, particularly one subject to tidal influence.

- The old village was built right next to a tidal fleet.
- The River Fleet, once a major waterway in London, now flows through a series of underground tunnels beneath the city streets.

Usage: Common in British place names, such as Fleet Street in London.

## Examples

- The company owns a large fleet of delivery trucks.
- The fishing fleet returned to the harbor just before the storm began to hit the coast.
- To reduce its carbon footprint, the logistics giant announced plans to replace its entire fleet of long-haul vehicles with electric alternatives by the end of the decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.