for a fleeting second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a fleeting second" is correct and can be used in written English.
It implies a momentary occurrence, a short duration of time, usually so brief that it doesn't last for longer than a few moments. For example, "As the sun set on the horizon, I stopped and admired the beauty of the moment for a fleeting second."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

For a fleeting second that looked like major drama.

The New York Times

As you bite down, the tensile strength holds for a fleeting second, before a pop and the flow of juices.

The New Yorker

But for a fleeting second, maybe we should acknowledge the possibility of a positive collective spirit emerging from terrible tragedy.

The Guardian - Opinion

His eyebrows arched, his eyes widened and for a fleeting second he looked like a comic about to deliver a punch line.

The New York Times - Sports

Pads with the tear-off "College List" were posted everywhere, and for a fleeting second I considered grabbing one to show Nicole, but held back.

The New York Times

Placing children beside carnivorous beasts — even for a fleeting second as the trainer steps aside for a photograph — illustrates a deep-seated and widespread quality in Russian culture: This is a nation of inveterate risk takers.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"Love in our life is just too valuable / Oh to feel for even a second without it / But life without death is just impossible / Oh, to realise something is ending within us," he sings gently, and for just a fleeting second, he's grabbed hold of nirvana.

The Guardian - Music

"Of course, if we are to respect for even a fleeting second the pronouncement of this holy man and his conviction, we certainly would expect that he turned over every single solitary penny of his possessions to a charity by the day before the end of the world.

Huffington Post

The demo eventually lost track of my hand and wasn't able to get it back — forgivable, given the early state of the project — but for a few fleeting seconds, I was finally getting a glimpse of AR tech that so many teams had promised me before.

TechCrunch

And so it was with the greatest pleasure and no regret that Philip flung the boy off the roof, and watched with a sense of mounting satisfaction as his body flailed uselessly in the air for a few fleeting seconds before hitting the tarmac with a dull thud.

The Guardian

It was Welshman Thomas who was once again the driving force behind Team Sky's defensive manoeuvres, and was on hand to help out Froome on a couple of occasions, with the Briton looking susceptible for the first time this year, if only for a few fleeting seconds.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "for a fleeting second" to add a sense of transience and brevity to your writing. It's effective when describing a quick glimpse, a momentary feeling, or something that disappears almost as soon as it appears.

Common error

While "for a fleeting second" is a vivid expression, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Strive for variety by using synonyms like "momentarily" or "for a brief instant" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a fleeting second" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the brief duration of an action or state. Ludwig confirms its proper usage, showing that it adds temporal context by specifying how long something occurred.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for a fleeting second" is a grammatically correct and useful adverbial phrase that adds a sense of transience to writing. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, indicating its suitability for descriptive narratives. While effective, overuse should be avoided to maintain its impact. Consider alternatives like "momentarily" or "for a split second" to diversify your writing. By understanding its nuances, writers can effectively use "for a fleeting second" to enhance their descriptions and convey the brevity of an event or emotion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a split second

Emphasizes the quickness of the occurrence, suggesting it happened almost instantaneously.

for a brief instant

Replaces "second" with "instant", highlighting the sudden and short-lived nature of the occurrence.

just for an instant

Highlights the brevity and abruptness of the moment.

momentarily

Single word adverb that indicates a very short period, implies more suddenness.

for a mere second

Adds a sense of insignificance to the short duration.

for a moment

Simplifies the phrase, losing some of the emphasis on brevity but remaining semantically close.

in the blink of an eye

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the extreme speed of the event.

in a heartbeat

Uses a physiological event to illustrate the speed of the moment.

in a flash

Uses a metaphorical term to describe the speed of the event.

for a trice

An archaic term for a very short time, adding a touch of formality or old-fashioned style.

FAQs

How can I use "for a fleeting second" in a sentence?

Use "for a fleeting second" to describe something that happens very quickly or a feeling that lasts only a short time. Example: "For a fleeting second, I thought I saw a ghost."

What are some alternatives to "for a fleeting second"?

You can use alternatives like "momentarily", "for a brief instant", or "for a split second" depending on the context.

Is it okay to start a sentence with "For a fleeting second"?

Yes, starting a sentence with "For a fleeting second" is grammatically correct and can be used for emphasis or to create a sense of immediacy.

What's the difference between "for a fleeting second" and "for a fleeting moment"?

Both phrases are very similar. "For a fleeting second" specifically refers to a very short unit of time, while "for a fleeting moment" is slightly more general and refers to a short period of time without being as specific.