eternal

1 of 3

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 3

noun

1

Eternal : god sense 1

—used with the

2

: something eternal

eternalize

3 of 3

transitive verb

eter·​nal·​ize ə̇ˈtərnᵊlˌīz 

ēˈ-, 

-tə̄n-, 

-təin-

-ed/-ing/-s

: eternize

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

Hope sprung eternal not on opening night but on July 1, when every fan could believe their GM was preparing to make a splash. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 8 July 2026

Joel Higgins played Ricky’s father, a successful entrepreneur and eternal child who’s finally forced to grow up and accept responsibility upon his estranged son’s return. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

Noun

Some cultures, Eliade shows, preserve their eternals by simply denying the force of history; in Lyell’s case, the culture at hand was Christianity, and the ideal was the unique status of humankind. — Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025

Its charms are straightforward, appealing to the eternal giggly adolescent in all of us. — Ligaya Mishan Melody Melamed, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2022

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