4 syllables: Me, te, or, ic. Stress on or.
mee-tee-AW-rik
/ˌmitiˈɔɹɪk/
Meteoric is pronounced mee-tee-AW-rik (/ˌmitiˈɔɹɪk/). It has four syllables (Me-te-or-ic), with the stress on "or". Meteoric is an adjective describing something that happens or rises rapidly, like a meteor streaking across the sky or a career that climbs to prominence quickly. It conveys speed, intensity, and a dramatic, often transient, brilliance. The term can be used figuratively to emphasize extraordinary, rapid growth or impact.
adjectiveMeteoric is an adjective describing something that happens or rises rapidly, like a meteor streaking across the sky or a career that climbs to prominence quickly. It conveys speed, intensity, and a dramatic, often transient, brilliance. The term can be used figuratively to emphasize extraordinary, rapid growth or impact.
"Her meteoric rise to fame shocked critics and fans alike."
"The project experienced meteoric growth in just a few quarters."
"A meteoric career can be thrilling, but it also brings intense pressure."
Pronounce as muh-TEE-OR-ik with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌmiː.tiˈɔː.rɪk/ in standard US/UK; some speakers also use /ˌmiːˈtɔːr.ɪk/. Begin with /ˈmiː/ (mee) then /ti/ (tee) or /tiː/ depending on accent, centralize or reduce the vowel in the second syllable, and finish with /-rɪk/. Aim for clear sonorant syllables and avoid overemphasizing the second vowel.
Two common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress, pronouncing it /ˌmiːˈtɔːrɪk/ with the stress on the fourth syllable. 2) Flattening the second syllable, saying /miːˈtiɔrɪk/ or /miˈtiɔːrɪk/. Correction: keep primary stress on the third syllable as in /ˌmiː.tiˈɔː.rɪk/ and articulate /ti/ clearly before the stressed /ɔː/. Use slow, deliberate transitions between /ti/ and /ɔː/ to avoid vowel merging.
US tends toward /ˌmiː.tiˈɔːrɪk/ with rhotic /r/. UK often uses /ˌmiː.tiˈɔː.rɪk/ or /ˌmiːˈtiː-ɔːrɪk/ with non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech. Australian usually preserves rhotic /r/ in careful speech but may nasalize or reduce the /iː/ to a shorter /i/ in casual speech. IPA references: US /ˌmiː.tiˈɔː.rɪk/, UK /ˌmiː.tiˈɔː.rɪk/, AU /ˌmiː.tiˈɔː.rɪk/. Focus on vowel length and rhoticity for difference.
Key challenges: the sequence of high-front /iː/ followed by the mid back /ɔː/ can create vowel clash if not separated; the stressed second syllable often sits near the /i/ sound, making the transition to /ɔː/ delicate; and the final /-ɪk/ requires a relaxed but tense-lax balance. Practice: isolate /tiˈɔː/ with a light glottal or clear release, then add the trailing /rɪk/. IPA cues help: /ˌmiː.tiˈɔː.rɪk/.
Pronunciation remains stable regardless of meaning; the meteor sense vs figurative sense doesn’t change phonemes, but you may alter intonation depending on emphasis. In a sentence like 'a meteoric rise,' you can lift pitch slightly on the stressed /ɔː/ syllable to convey urgency, but the segmental sequence stays the same: /ˌmiː.tiˈɔː.rɪk/.
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Meteoric derives from the noun meteor, which itself comes from the Greek metéōron meaning ‘high in the air’ or ‘thing in the sky.’ The suffix -ic forms adjectives. In early English astronomy and natural philosophy, meteors were described as celestial phenomena entering the atmosphere. By the 16th–17th centuries, meteor-like phenomena began to be used metaphorically for anything spectacularly swift or brilliant, a usage that intensified in the 19th and 20th centuries as metaphorical language about careers, fortunes, and events adopted meteor-related imagery. The core sense—relating to meteors, or to rapid, fiery ascent—remains central in contemporary usage. The word is common in both scientific and figurative contexts, often paired with growth, ascent, or impact, to denote extraordinary speed or brightness of development.
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Words that rhyme with "Meteoric"
-ric sounds
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