eternity
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
time that has no beginning and no end.
infinite or unending time; existence without beginning or end.
Simple“The stars seemed to have been shining there for all eternity.”
In context“The philosopher argued that the soul exists in a state of eternity, untouched by the linear progression of human history.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the time that continues forever after a person dies.
the state of existence or the remainder of time that follows death.
Simple“In many religions, people believe their souls will spend eternity in heaven.”
In context“The poet reflected on the transition from a mortal life to the vast silence of eternity.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a period of time that feels much longer than it actually is because you are bored or waiting.
a hyperbolic reference to a long duration, typically used to express impatience or boredom.
Simple“I waited for the bus for what felt like an eternity in the rain.”
In context“To the anxious candidate, the three minutes spent waiting for the interview results felt like a literal eternity.”
From Middle English eternyte, from Old French eternité, from Latin aeternitās. Displaced native Old English ēcnes.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.