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)
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 slander—William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare4
: valid or existing at all times : timeless
eternal verities
1
capitalized
: god sense 1
—used with the
2
: something eternal
Synonyms
Examples of eternal in a Sentence
Adjective
the eternal flames of hell
in search of eternal wisdom
When will his eternal whining stop?
Recent Examples on the WebDan McLaughlin, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
Through the evening, as the stories go, there was some singing, some weeping, and expressions of eternal affection.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
And though the #MeToo movement and the pandemic drove Americans to hit pause on workplace romances, a February survey from the Society of Human Resources shows that some things are eternal—and young people are down to date their coworkers once again after a hiatus of what seems like years.
—Jasmine Li, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2024
This is a version of Italy in which the land and its culture are eternal, but all our other main characters are past their expiration dates and Ripley is learning to find his own artistry in hastening that expiration.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
What is the secret to–if not eternal life, then a long one, that’s also well-lived?
—Kathleen Baird-Murray, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
That’s because unlike the proton or the electron, the muon isn’t eternal, but decays in just a fraction of a second.
—Byadrian Cho, science.org, 28 Mar. 2024
By playlist arrives less than a month after Grande released her latest studio album, eternal sunshine.
—Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2024
Traumatic memory doesn’t feel like a historical event, but returns in an eternal present, disconnected from its origin, leaving its bearer searching for an explanation.
—George Makari, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
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
These ancient seas and islands offer some reassuring glimpse of the eternal.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2022
Youth, like hope, seemingly springs eternal at the dawn of a new season.
—New York Times, 8 Apr. 2022
But hope springs eternal, maybe more so in baseball than anywhere else.
—John Wilkens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2022
More significantly, if life eternal is to know the only true God, as John 17:3 states, is their salvation at stake?
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Mar. 2022
Hope wasn’t given much of a chance to spring eternal on Monday for the Diamondbacks.
—Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 14 Mar. 2022
Hope springs eternal, though, as the two never confirmed their breakup with an official statement.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2022
Adjective
This is the eternal cry of the civilized man at war, the policeman walking the beat -- and the political conservative.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
Through the evening, as the stories go, there was some singing, some weeping, and expressions of eternal affection.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
And though the #MeToo movement and the pandemic drove Americans to hit pause on workplace romances, a February survey from the Society of Human Resources shows that some things are eternal—and young people are down to date their coworkers once again after a hiatus of what seems like years.
—Jasmine Li, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2024
This is a version of Italy in which the land and its culture are eternal, but all our other main characters are past their expiration dates and Ripley is learning to find his own artistry in hastening that expiration.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
What is the secret to–if not eternal life, then a long one, that’s also well-lived?
—Kathleen Baird-Murray, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
That’s because unlike the proton or the electron, the muon isn’t eternal, but decays in just a fraction of a second.
—Byadrian Cho, science.org, 28 Mar. 2024
By playlist arrives less than a month after Grande released her latest studio album, eternal sunshine.
—Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2024
Traumatic memory doesn’t feel like a historical event, but returns in an eternal present, disconnected from its origin, leaving its bearer searching for an explanation.
—George Makari, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 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
These ancient seas and islands offer some reassuring glimpse of the eternal.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2022
Youth, like hope, seemingly springs eternal at the dawn of a new season.
—New York Times, 8 Apr. 2022
But hope springs eternal, maybe more so in baseball than anywhere else.
—John Wilkens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2022
More significantly, if life eternal is to know the only true God, as John 17:3 states, is their salvation at stake?
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Mar. 2022
Hope wasn’t given much of a chance to spring eternal on Monday for the Diamondbacks.
—Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 14 Mar. 2022
Hope springs eternal, though, as the two never confirmed their breakup with an official statement.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2022
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
Phrases Containing eternal
Dictionary Entries Near eternal
Cite this Entry
“Eternal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eternal. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
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
adverb
-ᵊl-ē
eternalness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on eternal
Nglish: Translation of eternal for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of eternal for Arabic Speakers
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