What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ephemeral
Example
The beauty of cherry blossoms is ephemeral, lasting only a few weeks. [ephemeral: adjective]
Example
The joy of winning the championship was ephemeral, as they lost the next game. [ephemeral: noun]
evanescent
Example
The rainbow was evanescent, disappearing within minutes. [evanescent: adjective]
Example
The memory of her smile was evanescent, fading away with time. [evanescent: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ephemeral is more commonly used than evanescent in everyday language, and is more versatile in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ephemeral and evanescent?
Both words are formal in tone and are often used in literary or academic contexts.
