for·ev·er
fə-ˈre-vər 
fȯ-;
Southern often fə-ˈe-və
1
: for a limitless time
wants to live forever
2
: at all times : continually
is forever making bad puns
: a seemingly interminable time : excessively long
It took her forever to find the answer.
: not temporary or changing : permanent
"Any mandate we're looking at would be temporary, this is not a forever thing," BART District 8 Director Janice Li told SFGATE.—
Eric Ting
Eric Ting
especially
: of, relating to, or being a lifelong relationship
The song fantasizes of a forever romance … —Ryan Dombal
Ryan Dombal Jim, who works for a federal agency, had a couple of post-divorce relationships that fizzled out and is ready to meet his forever person. Maybe even get remarried. —Tanya Ballard Brown
Tanya Ballard Brown The baby who started life in the NICU now has a forever family. Together, they're sharing the joys of the holiday season and encouraging others to consider fostering or adopting. —Joey Safchik
Joey Safchik This British reality show … centers on the caring staff at a rural animal rescue center, as they try to find forever homes [=permanent adoptive homes] for the dogs that have come into their care. —latimes.com
latimes.com Synonyms
Examples of forever in a Sentence
Adverb
She was convinced that she would live forever.
I've been waiting forever for the doctor.
a dog that was forever chasing cars
He's forever asking silly questions.
Noun
After what seemed like forever, I was able to see the doctor.
It took forever to find his keys.
Recent Examples on the WebSharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2024
Now Kilmister will forever be a part of Hetfield since the singer blended some of the Motörhead frontman’s cremains into tattoo ink and got an Ace of Spades tat on his right middle finger.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
The ruling is a small step toward reducing some of the costs that make housing so expensive to build in California — a syndrome that, unless altered, will forever prevent the state from solving its housing dilemma.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
As the game industry grapples with saving older titles at risk of disappearing forever, emulators like Testut’s are likely to be more in demand all the time.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024
The Caesar is forever, which means it’s forever being manipulated.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
Green Day, the Notorious B.I.G and The Chicks are among the latest artists whose work will be preserved forever in Washington, D.C.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Analysts and former government officials, many of them shaped by the American forever wars, have written eloquently about the principles of proportionality and the potential for war-crimes prosecutions not just of Israelis but of their American counterparts.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
More often than not, though, shows that take forever to get to the point don’t stick around for very long.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2019
Printed with thermochromic ink, the stamp reveals a second image of the moon when a finger is pressed to it, and a sheet of 16 Forever stamps features a map of the eclipse path.
—Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2017
Forever is gonna start aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas Monday with a concert of lunar proportions.
—Chabeli Herrera, miamiherald, 17 Aug. 2017
Forever stamps are always equal to the current First-Class Mail service 1-ounce price.
—Michael McGough, sacbee, 14 July 2017
On July 12, the centenary of the artist’s birth, the postal service will celebrate the first day of 12 commemorative Forever stamps, each depicting a detail from a Wyeth painting.
—Stephan Salisbury, Philly.com, 26 June 2017
Try your hand at space exploration (Photo: Provided by US Postal Service)
The pane of 16 Forever stamps are available beginning Tuesday at Post Office facilities nationwide and may be pre-ordered for delivery after June 20.
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 20 June 2017
Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 17 Feb. 2024
The British heritage brand promises to treasure its forever trenches, with special cleaning and reproofing treatments and replacement part solutions.
—Kerry McDermott, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2023
And American leadership means ending the forever war in Afghanistan, Mr. Biden said, to applause.
—Grace Segers, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2021
The Arizona Humane Society’s Virtual Matchmaking Adoptions by appointment is available to place pets with their forever families.
—The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 8 Oct. 2022
Jim, who works for a federal agency, had a couple of post-divorce relationships that fizzled out and is ready to meet his forever person.
—Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022
While many are currently in placements and have plans in place, hundreds are still awaiting the chance at their forever homes.
—Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Nov. 2020
There are two sloth pups at the San Antonio Zoo waiting to be given their forever names.
—Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Mar. 2023
Remembering and honoring our forever hero, Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald.
—CBS News, 19 Feb. 2023
Adverb
And not to be the bearer of bad news, but the truth is that even the priciest mattress won’t last forever.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2024
Now Kilmister will forever be a part of Hetfield since the singer blended some of the Motörhead frontman’s cremains into tattoo ink and got an Ace of Spades tat on his right middle finger.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
The ruling is a small step toward reducing some of the costs that make housing so expensive to build in California — a syndrome that, unless altered, will forever prevent the state from solving its housing dilemma.
—Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
As the game industry grapples with saving older titles at risk of disappearing forever, emulators like Testut’s are likely to be more in demand all the time.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024
The Caesar is forever, which means it’s forever being manipulated.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
Green Day, the Notorious B.I.G and The Chicks are among the latest artists whose work will be preserved forever in Washington, D.C.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Analysts and former government officials, many of them shaped by the American forever wars, have written eloquently about the principles of proportionality and the potential for war-crimes prosecutions not just of Israelis but of their American counterparts.
—Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024
More often than not, though, shows that take forever to get to the point don’t stick around for very long.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
One way to mess with an option team’s Plan A is to not only stick them with third-and-forevers, but to put them in an early hole, making them throw out of desperation.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2019
Printed with thermochromic ink, the stamp reveals a second image of the moon when a finger is pressed to it, and a sheet of 16 Forever stamps features a map of the eclipse path.
—Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2017
Forever is gonna start aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas Monday with a concert of lunar proportions.
—Chabeli Herrera, miamiherald, 17 Aug. 2017
Forever stamps are always equal to the current First-Class Mail service 1-ounce price.
—Michael McGough, sacbee, 14 July 2017
On July 12, the centenary of the artist’s birth, the postal service will celebrate the first day of 12 commemorative Forever stamps, each depicting a detail from a Wyeth painting.
—Stephan Salisbury, Philly.com, 26 June 2017
Try your hand at space exploration (Photo: Provided by US Postal Service)
The pane of 16 Forever stamps are available beginning Tuesday at Post Office facilities nationwide and may be pre-ordered for delivery after June 20.
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 20 June 2017
Adjective
This week saw several local chickens paired with their forever homes.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 17 Feb. 2024
The British heritage brand promises to treasure its forever trenches, with special cleaning and reproofing treatments and replacement part solutions.
—Kerry McDermott, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2023
And American leadership means ending the forever war in Afghanistan, Mr. Biden said, to applause.
—Grace Segers, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2021
The Arizona Humane Society’s Virtual Matchmaking Adoptions by appointment is available to place pets with their forever families.
—The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 8 Oct. 2022
Jim, who works for a federal agency, had a couple of post-divorce relationships that fizzled out and is ready to meet his forever person.
—Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2022
While many are currently in placements and have plans in place, hundreds are still awaiting the chance at their forever homes.
—Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Nov. 2020
There are two sloth pups at the San Antonio Zoo waiting to be given their forever names.
—Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Mar. 2023
Remembering and honoring our forever hero, Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald.
—CBS News, 19 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forever.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near forever
Cite this Entry
“Forever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forever. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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