eternity

noun

eter·​ni·​ty i-ˈtər-nə-tē 

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

Synonyms

• everlasting
• foreverness
• infinity
• perpetuity

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

That stain will live on the Angels’ ledger for eternity. —Sam Blum, New York Times, 19 May 2025

Alison and Matthew had to sit in the waiting room for what felt like an eternity. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 15 May 2025

The next 10 minutes or so seemed like an eternity before they were reunited, Higley told the Idaho Statesman. —Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2025

So, while every moment of decline may feel like an eternity, history tells us that markets often recover faster than expected, depending on one significant variable: whether or not the economy enters a recession. —Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

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

Rhymes for eternity

• fraternity
• maternity
• modernity
• paternity
• confraternity
• taciturnity

Kids Definition

eternity

noun

eter·​ni·​ty i-ˈtər-nət-ē 

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