fleet

1 of 3

noun

1

: a number of warships under a single command

specifically : an organization of ships and aircraft under the command of a flag officer

2

: group sense 2a

especially : a group (as of ships, planes, or trucks) operated under unified control

fleet

2 of 3

adjective

1

: swift in motion : nimble

2

: fleeting

fleetly adverb

fleetness noun

fleet

3 of 3

verb

ˈflēt 

fleeted; fleeting; fleets

intransitive verb

1

a

: to fade away : vanish

b

archaic : flow

2

[fleet entry 2] : to fly swiftly

clouds fleeting across the sky

3

obsolete : drift

transitive verb

: to cause (time) to pass usually quickly or imperceptibly

many young gentlemen … fleet the time carelessly

—William Shakespeare

Synonyms

Noun

• armada
• caravan
• cavalcade
• line
• motorcade
• train

Adjective

• blistering
• breakneck
• breathless
• brisk
• dizzy
• fast
• fleet-footed
• flying
• galloping
• hasty
• hot
• lightning
• nippy
• quick
• rapid
• rapid-fire
• rattling
• snappy
• speedy
• splitting
• swift
• whirlwind
• zippy

Choose the Right Synonym for fleet

fast, rapid, swift, fleet, quick, speedy, hasty, expeditious mean moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity.

fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves

fast horses

and rapid to the movement itself.

rapid current

swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment

speedy delivery of mail

and may also suggest unusual velocity.

hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

Examples of fleet in a Sentence

Noun

He was the commander of the Pacific fleet.

The company has a large fleet of delivery trucks.

Adjective

a jewel thief said to be light of heart and fleet of foot

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The airline industry’s global fleet is aging, a result of the severe supply chain issues that are plaguing the industry. —Ted Reed, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

As British forces and their allies crowded Gadsden’s Wharf on the city’s eastern peninsula, thousands of people enslaved by retreating Loyalists scrambled for space aboard a fleet of 130 ships. —Kinsey Gidick, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024

Adjective

With this in mind, fleet electrification represents not only technological change but also an opportunity to digitally transform an industry that has seen modest evolution over the past 50 years. —Charlie Jardine, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

More:Fain letter urges UAW Stellantis members to be ready to OK strike More:GM reports 2.2% US sales dip in 3rd quarter, cites lower fleet demand Contact Jamie L. LaReau: [e-mail]. —Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 1 Oct. 2024

Verb

The camera now floats just behind the character’s head, depicting work and home, love stories and painful reunions, fleeting observations and a reckoning with the past, as if from two points of view simultaneously—one visual and one spectral, bringing absence to life along with presence. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024

In a world where the spotlight often leads to distractions, Pauletta’s grounding presence has been a stabilizing force, ensuring the family’s focus remains on meaningful achievements rather than fleeting fame. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flete, from Old English flēot ship, from flēotan

Adjective

probably from fleet entry 3

Verb

Middle English fleten, from Old English flēotan; akin to Old High German fliozzan to float, Old English flōwan to flow

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Phrases Containing fleet

• admiral of the fleet
• fleet admiral
• fleet-footed
• fleet of foot

Kids Definition

fleet

1 of 2 noun

ˈflēt 

1

: a group of warships under one command

2

: a group of ships or vehicles that move together or are under one management

a fleet of taxis

a fishing fleet

fleet

2 of 2 adjective

: very swift

fleet of foot

fleetly adverb

fleetness noun