immortality
AmericanEtymology
Origin of immortality
1300–50; Middle English immortalite < Latin immortālitās. See immortal, -ity
Explanation
If you achieve immortality that means you’ll live forever. If you find a magic potion, maybe you can literally live forever. Otherwise you’ll have to gain immortality by doing something so great that people never forget you. You may believe immortality can be achieved if you drink enough carrot juice, but so far humans haven’t figured out the secret to living forever. Instead, you’ll often hear immortality used to in relation to magnificent accomplishments. You may gain immortality by painting great works of art, like Michelangelo, or by being a great slugger, like Babe Ruth. The achievements live on, and the fame keeps your memory alive, forever! Or at least for a really long time.
Vocabulary lists containing immortality
American Born Chinese
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"Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson
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Vocabulary from "There Will Never Be an Age of Artificial Intimacy," by Sherry Turkle
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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.
“A husband destined for immortality has ended up a debt-ridden, third-rate comedian, laboring over his closing lines; a gifted child squandered his promise, consorting with moneylenders,” Li writes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
There the narrator meets both Homer and Odysseus, who now regrets his actions in the “Odyssey,” when he was fool enough to leave Calypso’s island and miss out on her offer of immortality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
The millions of devotees who take Johnson’s quest for immortality seriously may have better understood what was going on here.
From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026
The trio epitomise excellence in their respective fields - reflecting the album's overarching theme of art, excellence and immortality.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Which is how she knew that there had been a battle long ago over the nectar of immortality.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
