eternal

1 of 2

adjective

eter·​nal i-ˈtər-nᵊl How to pronounce eternal (audio)
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 intermission : perpetual
an eternal flame
b
: seemingly endless
eternal delays
3
archaic : infernal
some eternal villain … devised this slanderWilliam Shakespeare
4
: valid or existing at all times : timeless
eternal verities
eternalize transitive verb
eternally adverb
eternalness noun

eternal

2 of 2

noun

1
capitalized : god sense 1
used with the
2
: something eternal

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
To have the kind of transparency and vulnerability that allows such immediate access to the eternal, mysterious energy requires a great deal from the artist. Lauren Groff, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2024 At the heart of his own clairvoyance and mediumship was an understanding that God was benevolent — too good to ever create something so awful as hell or eternal damnation. Elizabeth Garner Masarik / Made By History, TIME, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
Its charms are straightforward, appealing to the eternal giggly adolescent in all of us. Ligaya Mishan Melody Melamed, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2022 But anyone capable of transcending the eternal now of the news cycle and recalling the debates of a decade ago might hear echoes in the Lemoine story of quite another dispute about personhood and language. Sasha Frere-Jones, Harper’s Magazine , 9 Nov. 2022 See all Example Sentences for eternal 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eternal.' 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

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near eternal

Cite this Entry

“Eternal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eternal. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on eternal

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