Meaning, in detail
Something ephemeral lasts for only a short time. The adjective can describe a flower, an event, an emotion or anything whose presence is brief rather than enduring.
It often draws attention to transience without judging it as good or bad. An ephemeral display can be beautiful precisely because it will soon vanish; an ephemeral success can be disappointing because it does not last.
Pronunciation
ih-FEM-uh-ruhl
IPA transcription or a simplified reading guide. Pronunciation can vary with accent.Where does it come from?
Greek ephēmeros refers to something lasting a day. Modern English usage is broader: ephemeral does not require an exact duration of twenty-four hours.
Use it in a sentence
The festival created an ephemeral town of lights and tents.
The rainbow offered an ephemeral burst of colour.Original examples written for Puzzoria.
Did you know?
The root points to a single day, but the modern adjective is not a stopwatch. A moment lasting seconds can be ephemeral too.