transitory

adjective

tran·si·to·ry ˈtran(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē

ˈtran-zə-

Synonyms of transitory next

: of brief duration : temporary

the transitory nature of earthly joy

: tending to pass away : not persistent

transitorily

ˌtran(t)-sə-ˈtȯr-ə-lē

ˌtran-zə-

adverb

transitoriness

ˈtran(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē-nəs

ˈtran-zə-

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for transitory

transient, transitory, ephemeral, momentary, fugitive, fleeting, evanescent mean lasting or staying only a short time.

transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.

fame in the movies is transitory

ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.

my feelings of guilt were only momentary

fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face

fleeting moments of joy

evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

Examples of transitory in a Sentence

the transitory nature of earthly pleasures

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

But also, in Spanish, there’s two verbs for being: permanent and transitory. —

Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024 Hedonic happiness, which is tied to experiencing pleasurable emotions and sensations, is transitory and ultimately elusive, says Hood. —

Sara Harrison, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2022 At least for now, inflation does indeed seem transitory. —

Sebastian Mallaby, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2021 The list of potential side effects is long, though most are minor and transitory. —

Emma Whitford, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for transitory

Word History

Etymology

Middle English transitorie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin transitorius, from Latin, of or allowing passage, from transire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of transitory was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Transitory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transitory. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

transitory

adjective

tran·si·to·ry ˈtran(t)s-ə-ˌtōr-ē

ˈtranz-

-ˌtȯr-

: lasting only a short time : short-lived, temporary

transitorily

ˌtran(t)s-ə-ˈtōr-ə-lē

ˌtranz-

-ˈtȯr-

adverb

Last Updated: 23 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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transitory

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of transitory in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near transitory

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition