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.

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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

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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

Announcing a candidate this early is unusual - if a week's a long time in politics, then two-and-a-half years is an eternity.

From BBC

At 22, an eternity in social-media years, LinkedIn has become a bigger part of the lives of many professionals and a thriving business.

From The Wall Street Journal

That proved critical because officials — after what seemed like an eternity — ruled that Darnold had thrown a backward pass and the ball was live when Charbonnet picked it up.

From Los Angeles Times

But the ChatGPT maker will end this year with a loss of several billion dollars and does not expect to be profitable before 2029, an eternity in the fast-moving and uncertain world of AI.

From Barron's

Like lovers throughout eternity, McCrea perhaps was willing to take risks to be reunited with the man she loved.

From The Wall Street Journal