infinity

noun

in·​fin·​i·​ty in-ˈfi-nə-tē 

plural infinities

1

a

: the quality of being infinite

b

: unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity : boundlessness

2

: an indefinitely great number or amount

an infinity of stars

3

a

: the limit of the value of a function or variable when it tends to become numerically larger than any preassigned finite number

b

: a part of a geometric magnitude that lies beyond any part whose distance from a given reference position is finite

do parallel lines ever meet if they extend to infinity

c

: a transfinite number (such as aleph-null)

4

: a distance so great that the rays of light from a point source at that distance may be regarded as parallel

Synonyms

• eternity
• everlasting
• foreverness
• perpetuity

Examples of infinity in a Sentence

The view tapers off into infinity.

a series of numbers that continues to infinity

The night sky was filled with an infinity of stars.

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s the goal of this documentary, in which Jonathan Halperin and Drew Takahashi explore the abstract concept of infinity. —Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2024

No stock goes up to infinity, and neither will Nvidia. —Michael Cannivet, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

In the moonlight, Mongolia ran away into her infinities, armored now with that fresh fall of snow. —Stanley Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024

For values of c smaller than –2 or bigger than 1/4, iteration quickly blows up to infinity. —Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024

Nothing makes a couple’s emotional issues seem small and banal like a backdrop of cosmic infinity. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024

This Huzi infinity pillow is an ultra-soft option that gives support from all angles for a more comfortable rest. —Katiee McKinstry, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024

But then something happened on the way to ratings infinity: Viewership went stagnant and, gasp, even declined. —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2024

And so another urgent question is whether people can enjoy the storied reality of finitude after coming down from the high of fake infinity. —Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English infinite, borrowed from Anglo-French infinité, borrowed from Latin infīnitāt-, infīnitās, from in- in- entry 1 + fīnis "boundary, limit, terminal point, ending" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at final entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing infinity

• infinity scarf
• infinity pool

Kids Definition

infinity

noun

in·​fin·​i·​ty in-ˈfin-ət-ē 

plural infinities

1

a

: the quality of being infinite

b

: a space, quantity, or period of time that is without limit

2

: an indefinitely great number or amount

3

: a point infinitely far away

Etymology

Middle English infinite "the quality of having no limit," from early French infinité (same meaning), derived from Latin infinitus (adjective) "having no limit," from in- "not" and finitus, past participle of finire "to limit, bring to an end," from finis "end, limit" — related to define, final, finish