Ephemeral
Cherry blossoms, viral trends, and festival weekends all share this quality: they are here, then gone, and that is exactly when people reach for this word.
Learn This WordMeaning
Lasting for a very short time; transitory or short-lived.
Memory trick
Think "E-FEM-eral" = "Extremely FEw Moments are eternal." The word itself sounds fleeting and temporary.
Examples
The band’s viral moment was ephemeral; by August, the feed had moved on to a different sound.
Her anger was oddly ephemeral: one sharp text, then silence, then takeout as a peace offering.
Fog over the bridge was so ephemeral I only caught it in one photo before the sun burned it off.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Greek ephēmeros "lasting only a day," from epi "on" + hēmera "day."
Usage Notes
Often used in literary or philosophical contexts to describe beauty, life, or moments that are precious because they don't last long.
Real-life contexts
Use it to describe fleeting moments: "That sunset was ephemeral but beautiful."
Perfect for discussing trends: "The popularity of that app was ephemeral."
Great for philosophical discussions: "Life's ephemeral nature makes each moment precious."
Common Mistakes
Don't confuse with "ethereal" (extremely delicate and light). Ephemeral refers to duration, not appearance.
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
adjective
Difficulty
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