noun

fleet

FLEET

noun

A group of ships, vehicles, or aircraft operated together, especially under one owner or command.

"The company runs a fleet of delivery vans across the city."

"The admiral gave the order and the whole fleet set sail at dawn."

adj

Moving quickly and lightly; swift.

"The deer was fleet of foot and vanished into the trees."

"A fleet runner can close a fast break before the defense sets up."

verb

To pass by quickly or vanish; to move on rapidly (somewhat old-fashioned usage).

"Summer seemed to fleet by before we knew it."

How to Use Fleet

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often a group of vehicles or vessels owned/run together (a fleet of taxis); less commonly, an adjective meaning fast and light on your feet.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "flee" (to run away) — fleet as an adjective describes speed, not escape.

Easily confused with

flee →

Common pairings

fleet of ships fleet of vehicles fleet management fleet of foot

Word Forms

fleeter comparative, more fleet comparative, fleeted past tense, fleets plural, fleets plural, fleets singular, fleetest superlative, most fleet superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The company runs a _____ of delivery vans across the city.

Etymology

From Old English fleot ("ship, vessel"), related to fleotan ("to float"). The adjective sense ("swift") grew out of the same root, via the idea of gliding smoothly.

Rhymes for fleet

feet meet beet jeet geet weet sweet sheet sleet skeet greet tweet

See all rhymes for fleet →