Ephemeral
mediumNeutral toneih-FEM-er-ul
adjective
Definition
Lasting for a very short time; transitory
Memory hook
E-FEMME-ral: A femme fatale's beauty is fleeting -- gorgeous but won't last.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The joy of winning the cricket match was ephemeral as the team lost the series.”
“Social media fame is often ephemeral, disappearing as quickly as it arrives.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The joy of winning the cricket match was ______ as the team lost the series.”
Show answer
ephemeral
Categories
GRE Tip
Ephemeral is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "fleeting" or "transient" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "permanent".
Related GRE Words
fugitive
Quick to disappear; fleeting; a person who has escaped
transitory
Not permanent; lasting only for a short time
transient
Lasting only for a short time; temporary
evanescent
Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing
fleeting
Lasting for a very short time; passing quickly
momentary
Lasting for a very short time; brief
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