eternity

noun

eter·​ni·​ty i-ˈtər-nə-tē 

plural eternities

1

: the quality or state of being eternal

2

: infinite time

lasting throughout eternity

3

eternities plural : age sense 3b

4

: the state after death : immortality

5

: a seemingly endless or immeasurable time

an eternity of delays

Synonyms of eternity

• perpetuity
• infinity
• foreverness

Examples of eternity in a Sentence

They believed that sinners would spend eternity in hell.

We suffered through an eternity of delays during the lawsuit.

Recent Examples on the Web

Heavy clay also holds onto moisture for an eternity, which many flowers and shrubs can’t tolerate. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 July 2026

In the rapidly evolving electric vehicle space, a single minute is a eternity. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026

Their teams competing and fans cheering filled millions of people back home with hope and, if only for a moment worth eternity, with joy and pride. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Just a little shard of eternity that had both of them in it, on the dance floor. — Sheila Heti, New Yorker, 26 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English eternite, from Middle French eternité, from Latin aeternitat-, aeternitas, from aeternus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for eternity

• fraternity
• maternity
• modernity
• paternity
• confraternity
• taciturnity

Kids Definition

eternity

noun

eter·​ni·​ty i-ˈtər-nət-ē 

plural eternities

1

: the quality or state of being eternal

2

: endless time

3

: the state after death : immortality

4

: time that seems to be endless