Ephemeral

adjective · SAT GRE

Meaning: Lasting for only a very short time; fleeting.

Examples

Many early films were printed on fragile nitrate stock, which made them surprisingly ephemeral: a large share of silent-era movies no longer survive.
The poet suggests that online fame is ephemeral, comparing a viral post to a soap bubble that glitters for a moment and then vanishes.
Youth is an ephemeral beauty.

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms:

fleetingtransientshort-livedmomentary

Antonyms:

enduringpermanentlasting

Memory tip

It comes from Greek for "lasting a day." Picture a mayfly, whose adult life is often over in a day or so.

Practice question

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

Sand mandalas, intricate designs that Tibetan Buddhist monks spend days creating, are deliberately ______: once finished, they are swept away to symbolize the impermanence of life.

Show answer

A) ephemeral. Sweeping the designs away right after they are finished makes them short-lived. "Ornate" is true of the designs, but it does not connect to the clue about impermanence.