impermanent
gb/ɪmpɚmənənt/ us/ɪmpɚmənənt/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
not lasting for long
Temporary; not permanent.
Usage pattern:
impermanent [thing/arrangement]; [something] is impermanent
Common mistake:
Learners may use impermanent where temporary is more natural in everyday conversation.
Synonyms
temporary (The most common everyday alternative.)
|
short-lived (Emphasizes that it ends quickly.)
|
transient (Slightly more formal; suggests passing through.)
Antonyms
permanent (Intended to last indefinitely.)
|
enduring (Lasting for a long time despite difficulty or change.)
Collocations
impermanent solution
|impermanent arrangement
|impermanent structure
|impermanent shelter
|impermanent job
|impermanent position
|impermanent housing
|impermanent visa
|impermanent paint
|impermanent relationship
Themes
daily_life
|time
|work
Examples
- The clinic is an impermanent structure built to serve the community for one year.
- Their contract is impermanent and will be renewed only if funding continues.
- The decorations were impermanent, designed to come down after the weekend.
Learner examples
- This job is impermanent.
- We need an impermanent solution for now.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
not fixed; changeable
Not stable; it changes easily.
Usage pattern:
impermanent [state/quality]; [something] is impermanent
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse impermanent (doesn’t last) with intermittent (stopping and starting).
Synonyms
unstable (Focuses on lack of stability rather than duration.)
|
fleeting (Suggests something disappears quickly.)
|
changeable (Highlights frequent or easy change.)
Antonyms
stable (Not likely to change suddenly.)
|
steady (Consistent over time.)
Collocations
impermanent happiness
|impermanent calm
|impermanent peace
|impermanent interest
|impermanent popularity
|impermanent success
|impermanent feeling
|impermanent confidence
|impermanent memory
|impermanent trend
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|time
Examples
- Her confidence felt impermanent, rising and falling with each comment.
- Online fame can be impermanent, disappearing as quickly as it arrives.
- The boundary between the two neighborhoods is impermanent and keeps shifting.
Learner examples
- My interest was impermanent.
- This feeling is impermanent.
adjective
literary
C2
abstract
3
transient nature of life
In some beliefs, nothing lasts forever.
Usage pattern:
the impermanent nature of [life/things]
Common mistake:
In this sense, impermanent often appears with abstract nouns (life, existence, all things) and sounds formal.
Synonyms
transitory (Formal; often used in philosophical writing.)
|
ephemeral (Literary; suggests brief beauty or presence.)
Antonyms
eternal (Lasting forever.)
|
everlasting (Continuing without end.)
Collocations
impermanent nature
|impermanent world
|impermanent existence
|impermanent self
|impermanent things
|impermanent reality
Themes
philosophy
|spirituality
Examples
- Meditation practices often emphasize the impermanent nature of thoughts.
- The poem reflects on love as impermanent and constantly changing.
- She found comfort in accepting that every moment is impermanent.
Grammar
Dictionary form
impermanent
IPA
GB/ɪmpɚmənənt/
US/ɪmpɚmənənt/
Syllables & stress
im - per - man - ent (4 syllables)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: impermanent
Word family
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
impermanence
noun
impermanently
adverb
Expressions
impermanent dye
1/ɪmpɚmənənt dˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
hair dye that fades
Dye that disappears after some time.
Examples
- She chose an impermanent dye to try the color before committing to it.
- Impermanent dye usually fades after several washes.
- If your hair is damaged, an impermanent dye can be a gentler option.
impermanent ink
1/ɪmpɚmənənt ˈɪŋk/
fixed phrase
ink that can be removed
Ink that does not last and can be removed.
Examples
- The label was printed in impermanent ink and smudged when it got wet.
- Don’t sign the form with impermanent ink if it might fade.
- The artist experimented with impermanent ink that disappears over time.
impermanent loss
1/ɪmpɚmənənt lˈɔs/
fixed phrase
technical
temporary loss in DeFi pools
A temporary loss that can happen in some crypto liquidity pools.
Examples
- Liquidity providers can face impermanent loss when token prices move sharply.
- The guide explains how impermanent loss works in constant-product pools.
- High trading fees may offset impermanent loss in some markets.
impermanent marker
1/ɪmpɚmənənt mˈɑɹkɚ/
fixed phrase
erasable marker pen
A marker you can usually erase or remove.
Examples
- Label the boxes with an impermanent marker so you can change the names later.
- He wrote the schedule on the whiteboard using an impermanent marker.
- Use an impermanent marker on plastic if you might need to wipe it off.