eternal

1 of 2

adjective

eter·​nal i-ˈtər-nᵊl 

1

a

: having infinite duration : everlasting

eternal damnation

b

: of or relating to eternity

c

: characterized by abiding fellowship with God

Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

—Mark 10:17 (Revised Standard Version)

2

a

: continued without end or interruption : perpetual

an eternal flame

b

: seemingly endless

eternal delays

3

archaic : infernal

… some eternal villain / … / … devised this slander

—William Shakespeare

4

: valid or existing at all times : timeless

eternal verities

eternalize

i-ˈtər-nə-ˌlīz 

transitive verb

eternally

i-ˈtər-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

eternalness noun

eternal

2 of 2

noun

1

Eternal : god sense 1

—used with the

2

: something eternal

Synonyms of eternal

Adjective

• immortal
• enduring
• ongoing
• continuing
• perpetual
• lasting
• perennial

Noun

• Lord
• God
• Father
• Creator

Examples of eternal in a Sentence

Adjective

the eternal flames of hell

in search of eternal wisdom

When will his eternal whining stop?

Noun

spent much time pondering the nature of the Eternal

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Of course, the eternal It-girl left no shortage of looks to obsess over—even Bella Hadid and Olivia Rodrigo are not immune to the Birkin effect. — Olivia Allen, Vogue, 21 July 2026

Dance music, too, tries to spin a finite moment into something eternal. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026

Noun

At Disney, Zhao previously directed another genre project based on famous IP, Marvel’s Eternals, which underperformed both with critics and in the boxoffice. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2026

Before joining Bridgerton, Hannah Dodd appeared in the Marvel film Eternals (2021) and starred opposite Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes 2 (2022). — Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin aeternalis, from Latin aeternus eternal, from aevum age, eternity — more at aye

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing eternal

• eternal flame

Rhymes for eternal

• diurnal
• external
• fraternal
• infernal
• internal
• maternal
• nocturnal
• paternal
• pimpernel
• colonel
• journal
• kernel

Kids Definition

eternal

adjective

eter·​nal

i-ˈtərn-ᵊl

1

: having no beginning and no end : lasting forever

eternal bliss

2

: continuing without interruption

that dog's eternal barking

eternally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb

eternalness noun