permanently
PUR-muh-nuhnt-lee
Permanently (adv) means In a way that lasts forever, or for good. Example: “The road is permanently closed because the bridge is no longer safe.”
adv
1
In a way that lasts forever, or for good.
"The road is permanently closed because the bridge is no longer safe."
"Friday’s vote has permanently redefined the kilogram and sent Le Grand K into retirement."
— Matthew Robinson and Lianne Kolirin, The world has just redefined the kilogram (2018)
"The factory closed permanently last year."
"He moved to Spain permanently after retiring."
How to use permanently
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFor good, with no plan to change or reverse it.
Common pairings
permanently closed
permanently disabled
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more permanently
- Superlative
- most permanently
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The road is _____ closed because the bridge is no longer safe.
Etymology
From permanent + -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for permanently
gently
recently
fluently
urgently
silently
intently
patently
decently
currently
fervently
patiently
evidently
See all rhymes for permanently →
Frequently asked questions
What does “permanently” mean?
The word “permanently” means in a way that lasts forever, or for good. In plain terms, for good, with no plan to change or reverse it.
How do you pronounce “permanently”?
“Permanently” is pronounced PUR-muh-nuhnt-lee (/ˈpɝmənəntli/ in IPA).
How do you use “permanently” in a sentence?
Here is “permanently” used in a sentence: “The factory closed permanently last year.”
What is the opposite of “permanently”?
The opposite of “permanently” — its antonyms — are temporarily and transiently.
What part of speech is “permanently”?
“Permanently” is an adverb.
Is “permanently” a common word?
“Permanently” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between permanently and temporarily?
They are direct opposites. Permanently means in a way that lasts forever or for good, while temporarily means for a limited time only. A shop that is permanently closed will not reopen; one that is temporarily closed intends to open again.
Is it permanently or permanantly?
The correct spelling is permanently: permanent plus the ending -ly. Misspellings such as "permanantly" and "permenantly" are common because the middle syllables are unstressed, but only permanently is correct.
What is the difference between permanently and forever?
Both mean for all time, but forever is the more absolute, emotive word, common in speech and expressions like "friends forever." Permanently is the practical choice for statuses, decisions, and records, as in "permanently deleted" or "permanently banned," where it means for good, with no planned reversal.
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