indefinitely
Americanadverb
-
without any imposed limit in time; from now on, for an unspecified period; without a specified end.
-
in a vague or nonspecific way; without identifying any particulars.
adverb
Explanation
Use the adverb indefinitely to describe something that happens for an unlimited amount of time or to an unlimited extent. Kittens could bat around a ball of string indefinitely. When your cousin postpones her wedding indefinitely after her fiancé’s “business trip” to Las Vegas, you probably want to hold off on buying a gift. They may work things out, but sometimes people intend indefinitely to be synonymous with forever. Like, “We can’t keep fighting over that weekend I spent in Las Vegas indefinitely…”
Vocabulary lists containing indefinitely
Holes
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"Curtis Aikens and the American Dream" and "Go For It!"
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Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
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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.
But this "buffer effect" cannot continue indefinitely and is expected to be followed by faster losses.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
Center Tyler Biadasz is out indefinitely after suffering a left knee injury in Tuesday’s joint practice with San Francisco.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
If the U.S. can keep the nuclear program in check and traffic resumes in the strait, then Trump is more likely to extend the current ceasefire indefinitely, the officials said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
When I told him that wasn’t enough to live on, he insisted that he would simply keep working, as though he’ll be able to do so indefinitely.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
Once I get the fuel plant hooked up to the Hab's power, it'll give me half a liter of liquid C02 per hour, indefinitely.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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.
