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Ephemeral: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Ephemeral adjective. Lasting only a very short time.
How to say it
ih-FEM-uh-rul/ɪˈfɛm(ə)rəl/
4 syllables, stressed on the second (FEM).
Ephemeral in a sentence
Fame online is ephemeral; by Friday nobody remembers the dancing goat.
The wood’s ephemeral spring flowers are gone before the trees are in full leaf.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- fleeting
- transient
- short-lived
- momentary
Opposite:
- lasting
- permanent
- enduring
Where ephemeral comes from
From Greek ephēmeros, lasting only a day, from hēmera, day.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The wood’s _____ spring flowers are gone before the trees are in full leaf.
- continual
- ephemeral
- antediluvian
Show the answer
ephemeral: The wood’s ephemeral spring flowers are gone before the trees are in full leaf.