Fleeting

Lasting for only a very short time; passing swiftly and quickly. 'Fleeting' describes something that is transient and ephemeral, leaving little or no lasting impression.

It emphasizes the brevity and momentary nature of an experience, sensation, or object. A fleeting moment may be beautiful or significant, but its defining characteristic is its short duration.

The word often carries a sense of something almost being gone before one can fully grasp or appreciate it.

Fleeting meaning with examples

• The rainbow after the storm was a fleeting spectacle, appearing for only a few minutes before fading back into the gray sky.
• She caught a fleeting glimpse of her childhood home as the train sped past, triggering a wave of nostalgia within her.
• His moment of glory on the winner's podium felt fleeting, already replaced with the pressure to defend his title next year.
• The butterfly's flight was a fleeting dance of color, barely registered before it disappeared into the dense foliage of the garden.
• There was a fleeting moment of eye contact, a connection formed and broken in an instant amidst the busy train station platform.