# fleeting

/ˈfɫitɪŋ/ (US) · /flˈiːtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fleeting
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. lasting a short time

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

lasting for only a very short time; passing quickly.

For teachers: passing swiftly; of brief duration or ephemeral nature.

- I caught a fleeting glimpse of the deer before it ran into the woods.
- The politician's popularity proved to be fleeting, evaporating almost entirely once the economic crisis began to affect the average voter.

Usage: Commonly collocates with nouns like 'glimpse', 'moment', 'visit', or 'thought'.

Teaching tip: While neutral, this word often carries a slightly poetic or literary tone; students should use it to describe things that are naturally short-lived, like emotions or sights.

## Examples

- I caught a fleeting glimpse of the deer before it ran away.
- The politician's popularity proved to be fleeting once the economic crisis began to affect voters.
- The poet captures the fleeting nature of youth, comparing it to the morning dew that vanishes as soon as the sun rises over the horizon.

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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.