eternity

American  

[ih-tur-ni-tee] / ɪˈtɜr nɪ ti /

noun

plural

eternities

1. infinite time; duration without beginning or end.

2. eternal existence, especially as contrasted with mortal life.

   the eternity of God.

3. Theology. the timeless state into which the soul passes at a person's death.

4. an endless or seemingly endless period of time.

   We had to wait an eternity for the check to arrive.

5. eternities, the truths or realities of life and thought that are regarded as timeless or eternal.

---

eternity British  

/ ɪˈtɜːnɪtɪ /

noun

1. endless or infinite time

2. the quality, state, or condition of being eternal

3. (usually plural) any of the aspects of life and thought that are considered to be timeless, esp timeless and true

4. theol the condition of timeless existence, believed by some to characterize the afterlife

5. a seemingly endless period of time

   an eternity of waiting

---

Other Word Forms

• noneternity noun
• preeternity noun

Etymology

Origin of eternity

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English eternite, from Latin aeternitās; equivalent to eterne + -ity

Example Sentences

A centrepiece of the prosecution case concerned the mysterious reappearance of Arlene's gold eternity ring, diamond and gold wedding ring, and a sapphire engagement ring.

From BBC

Yet that seems like an eternity when “entrepreneurs are building bespoke solutions with AI rather than buying enterprise licenses,” Visser writes.

From Barron's

He said Kurtag is widely referred to as "the master of miniature forms", as many of his pieces "capture only a few minutes or even less period of time from eternity".

From Barron's

Then she always had to spend another eternity drying her hair—she’d be doing well to make it back to Chip’s house before midnight.

From Literature

When mired in such awkwardness, it seems an eternity.

From BBC