ephemerally

/əˈfem.ər.əl.i/ adverb

Definition

  1. general In an ephemeral manner; lasting for a very short time; briefly.
  2. poetic Transitorily; in a way that vanishes or fades quickly.

Etymology

From Middle English ephemeral, via Late Latin ephemeros from Greek ἡμέρα (hēméra, "day") + -eros. The adverbial form was first recorded in the mid-17th century, retaining the classical sense of "lasting only a day" before broadening to mean "briefly" or "transiently" in modern usage.

Usage Examples

"The cherry blossoms bloomed ephemerally, painting the streets in soft pink before retreating as quickly as they arrived."
— The Cambridge Review of Botany, 2018
"Digital trends often rise and fall ephemerally, leaving little trace in cultural memory."
— Journal of Media Studies, 2021

Synonyms

transiently briefly fleeting momentarily evanescently temporarily

Antonyms

permanently enduringly lastingly perpetually

Frequency

Academic Literary Digital
🕒 Ephemeral Notes
23:59:59

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