eternity

noun

eter·​ni·​ty i-ˈtər-nə-tē 

plural eternities

1

: the quality or state of being eternal

2

: infinite time

lasting throughout eternity

3

eternities plural : age sense 3b

4

: the state after death : immortality

5

: a seemingly endless or immeasurable time

an eternity of delays

Synonyms of eternity

• perpetuity
• infinity
• foreverness

Examples of eternity in a Sentence

They believed that sinners would spend eternity in hell.

We suffered through an eternity of delays during the lawsuit.

Recent Examples on the Web

In Westwood, that’s an eternity. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026

One hundred years is not long when compared to the eternity that brought us to here, but commercial radio began to emerge just 100 years ago, making music available to the masses for the first time. —Mike Hanlon march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026

Nine years is an eternity in the life of a city. —Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026

Red Bandana troubadour, braids like twin ropes lassoing eternity? —Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English eternite, from Middle French eternité, from Latin aeternitat-, aeternitas, from aeternus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for eternity

• fraternity
• maternity
• modernity
• paternity
• confraternity
• taciturnity

Kids Definition

eternity

noun

eter·​ni·​ty i-ˈtər-nət-ē 

plural eternities

1

: the quality or state of being eternal

2

: endless time

3

: the state after death : immortality

4

: time that seems to be endless