eternal

[ih-tur-nl]

adjective

1. without beginning or end; lasting forever; always existing (temporal ).

   eternal life.

   Synonyms: permanent
   Antonyms: transitory

2. perpetual; ceaseless; endless.

   eternal quarreling;

   eternal chatter.

3. enduring; immutable.

   eternal principles.

   Synonyms: indestructible, imperishable, undying, deathless, immortal, timeless
   Antonyms: mutable

4. Metaphysics.,  existing outside all relations of time; not subject to change.

noun

1. something that is eternal.

2. the Eternal. God.

eternal

/ ɪˈtɜːnəl /

adjective

1. 1. without beginning or end; lasting for ever

      eternal life

   2. ( as noun )

      the eternal

2. (often capital) denoting or relating to that which is without beginning and end, regarded as an attribute of God

3. unchanged by time, esp being true or valid for all time; immutable

   eternal truths

4. seemingly unceasing; occurring again and again

   eternal bickering

Other Word Forms

• eternality noun
• eternally adverb
• eternalness noun
• noneternal adjective
• noneternalness noun
• preeternal adjective
• quasi-eternal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of eternal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English eternale, eterneel, from Old French eternal, eternel, from Late Latin aeternālis, equivalent to aetern(us) ( eterne ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of eternal¹

C14: from Late Latin aeternālis, from Latin aeternus; related to Latin aevum age

Synonym Study

Eternal, endless, everlasting, perpetual imply lasting or going on without ceasing. That which is eternal is, by its nature, without beginning or end: God, the eternal Father. That which is endless never stops but goes on continuously as if in a circle: an endless succession of years. That which is everlasting will endure through all future time: a promise of everlasting life. Perpeptual implies continuous renewal as far into the future as one can foresee: perpetual strife between nations.

Example Sentences

In overtly religious works, when the Antichrist vouchsafes temporal comfort, it usually comes at the expense of man’s eternal salvation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s the eternal dilemma between artist and fan — between an artist giving their fans what they want versus giving themselves what they need.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On the other is Hollywood’s eternal wariness over the effect of new technology, and its desire to retain control over increasingly valuable intellectual property rights.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s all combining in a season of valediction for the eternal misfit whose life and career recently got the documentary treatment in “Let the Canary Sing” on Paramount+.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s not the same band that you saw in college; it’s not the same vibe, but the songs remain endlessly indelible, eternal.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• abiding 
• boundless 
• constant 
• continual 
• continued 
• enduring 
• everlasting 
• immortal 
• immutable 
• indestructible 
• infinite 
• interminable 
• lasting 
• never-ending 
• perennial 
• permanent 
• perpetual 
• relentless 
• timeless 
• unceasing