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

• perpetuity
• infinity
• foreverness

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

The bottle list, however, would make for an eternity of great drinking without ever repeating your order. —The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025

After what seemed like an eternity to Beau, his owners finally came home with his friend, and the dog instantly greeted the boy at the door. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

To complete the sequence, Gray returned to his love and lightly touched hands before drinking a potion to join him in eternity. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025

And our hands are up, because goals from goalkeepers only materialise once in an eternity. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 21 Aug. 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