eternity
ih-TUR-nih-tee
Eternity (noun) means Time without end; existence that never stops. Example: “Some faiths teach that the soul lives on for eternity.”
noun
1
Time without end; existence that never stops.
"Some faiths teach that the soul lives on for eternity."
2
An amount of time that feels endlessly long.
"The last ten minutes of the lesson dragged on for an eternity."
"Waiting for the results felt like an eternity."
"We sat in traffic for what seemed like an eternity."
How to use eternity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTime that never ends, or a stretch of time that feels like it never will.
Common pairings
for all eternity
feels like an eternity
an eternity of waiting
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Word forms
- Plural
- eternities
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Some faiths teach that the soul lives on for _____.
Etymology
From Old French eternité, from Latin aeternitās, from aeternus (\"eternal\").
Synonyms
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infinity
timelessness
endlessness
everlastingness
forever
eternal now
extratemporality
perpetuity
ages
centuries
donkey's years
hours
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for eternity
See all rhymes for eternity →Frequently asked questions
What does “eternity” mean?
The word “eternity” means time without end; existence that never stops. In plain terms, time that never ends, or a stretch of time that feels like it never will.
How do you pronounce “eternity”?
“Eternity” is pronounced ih-TUR-nih-tee (/əˈtɜɹnəti/ in IPA).
How do you use “eternity” in a sentence?
Here is “eternity” used in a sentence: “Some faiths teach that the soul lives on for eternity.”
What is another word for “eternity”?
Words with a similar meaning to “eternity” include eternal now, extratemporality, perpetuity, ages, centuries and donkey's years.
What is the opposite of “eternity”?
The opposite of “eternity” — its antonyms — are sempiternity and moment.
What part of speech is “eternity”?
“Eternity” is a noun.
Where does the word “eternity” come from?
The word “eternity” comes from Latin. From Old French eternité, from Latin aeternitās, from aeternus (\"eternal\").
Is “eternity” a common word?
“Eternity” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between eternity and infinity?
Eternity refers specifically to time without end, or existence that never stops, while infinity is a broader mathematical and philosophical concept referring to something without any limit, not necessarily tied to time. Eternity is essentially infinity applied to the dimension of time.
How is "eternity" used to describe a feeling rather than actual endless time?
"Eternity" is often used loosely to describe an amount of time that feels endlessly long, even though it is not literally infinite, as in "we waited an eternity for the results." This figurative use exaggerates duration for emphasis.
What does "for eternity" mean in common phrases?
"For eternity" means forever, without any end, and is often used in emotional or poetic contexts such as vows or memorials to express a permanent, unending commitment or state.
