Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

forever

American  
[fawr-ev-er, fer-] / fɔrˈɛv ər, fər- /

adverb

  1. without ever ending; eternally.

    Like the memory of her laughter, the love for her in our hearts will last forever.

  2. continually; incessantly; always.

    He's forever complaining.

noun

  1. an endless or seemingly endless period of time.

    It took them forever to make up their minds.

adjective

  1. lasting for an endless period of time; permanent.

    The stray dog is staying with us until we can find a forever home for it.

idioms

  1. forever and a day, eternally; always.

    They pledged to love each other forever and a day.
forever British  
/ fɔːˈrɛvə, fə- /

adverb

  1. Also: for ever.  without end; everlastingly; eternally

  2. at all times; incessantly

  3. informal for a very long time

    he went on speaking forever
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. informal (as object) a very long time

    it took him forever to reply

  2. an exclamation expressing support or loyalty

    Scotland forever!
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

Forever and for ever can both be used to say that something is without end. For all other meanings, forever is the preferred form

Etymology

Origin of forever

First recorded in 1300–50; originally a prepositional phrase for ever

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"But I want to say that feeling is not forever, it gets easier," she said.

From BBC

"The past year has been a complete whirlwind for me and my family. Honestly, it's changed our lives forever and we're forever grateful," he said.

From BBC

Companies say AI will fundamentally change business forever.

From The Wall Street Journal

It added: "His colour, age and a common misperception that greyhounds need lots of exercise, were all factors that prevented Bobby finding his forever home - plus an unwillingness to share his toys."

From BBC

“But their global view, that they have an obligation to establish the rule of God in the land of God, that didn’t change. It’s a misrepresentation to portray them as only nationally-focused forever”

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.