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 of eternity

• 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

Weissert dominated in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy in March, which feels like an eternity ago. —Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 29 May 2026

Developed more than a decade ago, the Xpandable™ line of high fashion rings, eternity rings and bracelets embodies proprietary PICCHIOTTI problem-solving technologies. —Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

The prince actually proposed to Grace with a diamond-and-ruby eternity band. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 23 May 2026

No one in town is pleased, least of all the ghosts who would be doomed to an eternity of bright lights and noisy machines if that evil water conglomerate were to get its way. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 May 2026

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