ENGLISH
REFERENCE

perpetual

adj.
C1 Advanced US //pɝˈpɛtʃuəɫ// UK //pəpˈɛtʃuːəl// per·pet·u·al

adj. continuing forever or happening so often that it never seems to stop. You use this to describe things that feel like they have no end.

adj. continuing forever or occurring repeatedly without interruption. Often used to describe states or processes that appear to be permanent or never-ending.


SIMPLE

The mountain peaks are covered in perpetual snow.

CONTEXTUAL

The city's perpetual traffic congestion has forced the local government to invest heavily in public transport.

COMPLEX

In the high Arctic, the summer months are characterized by perpetual daylight, which significantly alters the biological rhythms of the local wildlife.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English perpetuel, from Old French perpetuel, from Latin perpetuālis (“universal”), from perpetuus, from petō.

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies; often used in formal or literary contexts to emphasize duration.

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