# immortal

/ˌɪˈmɔɹtəɫ/ (US) · /ɪmˈɔːtəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/immortal
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. living forever

adjective · CEFR B2

living forever and never dying.

For teachers: exempt from death or mortality; living eternally.

- In many ancient stories, the gods are immortal and live on a high mountain.
- The myth describes a hero who sought an immortal existence, only to realise that eternal life without eternal youth was a curse.

### 2. famous forever

adjective · CEFR B2

so famous or important that people will never forget them.

For teachers: deserving of or possessing everlasting fame; enduring through time.

- Shakespeare's immortal plays are still performed all over the world today.
- The composer achieved immortal fame with his final symphony, which remains a cornerstone of the classical repertoire centuries later.

### 3. a being who lives forever

noun · CEFR B2

a being, like a god, who can never die.

For teachers: a being, typically a deity or supernatural entity, who is not subject to death.

- The Greeks believed that the immortals watched over the lives of humans.
- The epic poem contrasts the petty squabbles of the immortals with the tragic, brief lives of the soldiers on the battlefield.

### 4. a very famous person

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a person who is so famous in their field that they will always be remembered.

For teachers: a person of such eminence that their fame is considered enduring or permanent.

- The young player was delighted to be mentioned alongside the immortals of the game.
- By winning his fifth consecutive title, he secured his place among the sporting immortals.

## Examples

- In the movie, the hero is an immortal who cannot be killed.
- Ancient Greek myths are filled with stories of the immortals living on Mount Olympus and interfering in human affairs.
- The poet suggests that while the artist is mortal, the creator of a masterpiece becomes a symbolic immortal through the enduring legacy of their work.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.