eternity
gb/ɪtˈɚnəti/ us/ɪtˈɚnəti/
B1
English
~ 5400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
quantity
1
a very, very long time
A very long time that feels like it never ends, but actually does end.
Usage pattern:
wait [an eternity] for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning always refers to religious or literal endless time. In everyday speech, 'an eternity' usually means a very long time, used as exaggeration. Also, note the common pattern 'an eternity' (with the article) for this sense.
Synonyms
ages (Informal; a very long time, similar exaggeration used in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
moment (Suggests a very short period, opposite of a time that feels endlessly long.)
Collocations
seem like an eternity
|take an eternity
|wait an eternity
|felt like an eternity
|last an eternity
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The meeting seemed to last an eternity.
- I waited an eternity for the doctor to call my name.
- Those ten minutes felt like an eternity while we waited for the test results.
- It takes an eternity for this old computer to start up.
- The final seconds of the game stretched into what felt like an eternity.
Learner examples
- The bus was late, and it felt like an eternity.
- I waited an eternity for my food at the restaurant.
- The class was only one hour, but it seemed like an eternity.
- The movie was so slow that it felt like an eternity.
- She said the flight took an eternity because she could not sleep.
Noun
B2
state
2
time without an end
Time that never stops or ends.
Usage pattern:
for (all) eternity
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this literal sense of endless time with the exaggeration meaning in sense 1. If the context is religious, philosophical, or very serious, it usually means truly without end, not just a long time.
Synonyms
forever (Common adverb with a very similar meaning; often used instead of 'for all eternity' in everyday language.)
Antonyms
temporariness (Refers to something lasting only for a limited time, opposite of endless duration.)
Collocations
for all eternity
|throughout eternity
|into eternity
|in all eternity
|from eternity to eternity
Themes
time
|philosophy
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Some people believe the soul exists in eternity.
- The stars seemed to stretch into eternity above us.
- He promised to love her for all eternity.
- Philosophers have argued about the nature of eternity for centuries.
- The monument was built to stand for eternity.
Learner examples
- Many religions talk about eternity.
- They said their love would last for all eternity.
- Some people think the universe will continue into eternity.
- She wondered what it means to live in eternity.
- The idea of eternity is hard to understand.
Noun
C1
state
3
endless life after death
The never-ending life that some religions say people have after they die.
Usage pattern:
spend eternity in [a place/state]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this sense when they only mean a very long time on earth. When you say 'spend eternity in heaven/hell', it almost always means the religious afterlife, not just living a long time.
Synonyms
afterlife (General term for life after death; does not always emphasize that it is endless, but often used in a similar religious context.)
Antonyms
nonexistence (Suggests that nothing of a person continues after death, opposite to an eternal afterlife.)
Collocations
spend eternity in heaven
|spend eternity in hell
|enter eternity
|face eternity
|saved for eternity
Themes
religion
|philosophy
|death
|time
Examples
- They believed that their souls would spend eternity together in heaven.
- The preacher asked the crowd where they wanted to spend eternity.
- In her faith, death is simply the doorway to eternity.
- He feared an eternity in hell more than death itself.
- The book explores different ideas about eternity and the human soul.
Learner examples
- She believes she will live in eternity with God.
- The pastor talked about where we spend eternity.
- Some people are afraid of eternity in hell.
- In that story, the hero enters eternity after his final battle.
- Different religions have different ideas about eternity.
Grammar
Expressions
for all eternity
1/fɚ ˈɔl ɪtˈɚnəti/
fixed phrase
for time without end
For a time that never stops; forever.
Examples
- She vowed to remember his kindness for all eternity.
- The monument was built to stand for all eternity.
- They believed their souls would be joined for all eternity.
for eternity
1/fɚ ɪtˈɚnəti/
fixed phrase
for an endless time
For a time that has no end; forever.
Examples
- Some say the universe will expand for eternity.
- He felt as if he could sit and listen to her voice for eternity.
- They believed their spirits would live on for eternity.
spend eternity in
1/spˈɛnd ɪtˈɚnəti ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
exist forever in a place
To live forever, after death, in a certain place or state (for example, heaven or hell).
Examples
- They believed they would spend eternity in heaven.
- The sermon warned that sinners might spend eternity in hell.
- He prayed that his family would spend eternity in peace.
take an eternity
1/tˈeɪk ən ɪtˈɚnəti/
idiom
require a very long time
To last or need so much time that it feels like it never ends.
Examples
- This download is taking an eternity.
- The repair process took an eternity, but the car finally worked.
- Choosing a movie always takes an eternity with him.
wait an eternity
1/wˈeɪt ən ɪtˈɚnəti/
idiom
wait for a very long time
To wait for so long that it feels like it never ends, although it does end.
Examples
- We waited an eternity for our food to arrive.
- I felt like I waited an eternity before the phone finally rang.
- She said she had to wait an eternity just to see the doctor.