eternity

noun

eter·​ni·​ty i-ˈtər-nə-tē How to pronounce eternity (audio)
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

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 Perspective Carolyn Hax: Child care from the in-laws was ‘free,’ except for eternity in... Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Atonement would require the sacrifice of three daughters to the mythical reptile for eternity. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 The parents, Didi (Julia McNeal) and Joe (Harrold Surratt), exit, and the audience sits quietly for what seems a full minute – an eternity in theatre time – so as to adjust to a more human pace. Giovanni René Rodriguez, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 In just the right quantum setting, any arrangement of electrons or atoms would stay put for all eternity — even uneven arrangements thrumming with activity. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 The major plot line was Kyle and husband Mauricio Umansky's separation, which the show's been slowly, boringly building to for an eternity. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2024 Users can be counted on to agree to basically anything (up to and including being enslaved for all eternity). Dell Cameron, WIRED, 16 Jan. 2024 Now Toby Keith has traded time for eternity, succumbing to stomach cancer at the age of 62. Mike Kerrigan, National Review, 7 Feb. 2024 Crisp, polished and professional, Sting ran through all the favorites — from the opener, Englishman in New York, through to Fields of Gold, Message in a Bottle and King of Pain — and indulged his improvisatory impulses with a rendition of Roxanne that seemed to stretch on for eternity. Preston Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eternity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of eternity was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near eternity

Cite this Entry

“Eternity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eternity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

eternity

noun
eter·​ni·​ty i-ˈtər-nət-ē How to pronounce eternity (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on eternity

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