forever
gb/fɚˈɛvɚ/ us/fɚˈɛvɚ/
A2
English
~ 4100
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A2
relation
1
For all future time
For all time in the future, without stopping.
Usage pattern:
[verb] forever
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'forever' with 'for a long time'. 'Forever' means without end, not just a long period.
Synonyms
eternally (More formal and often used in religious or poetic contexts.)
Antonyms
temporarily (Indicates something lasting only for a short or limited time.)
Collocations
love forever
|last forever
|stay forever
|remember forever
|wait forever
Themes
time
|relationships
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I will love you forever.
- The internet has changed the world forever.
- She promised to remember that day forever.
- Some friendships last forever.
- The city was forever changed by the earthquake.
Learner examples
- I will be your friend forever.
- He wants to stay here forever.
- This picture will be in my heart forever.
- We will remember him forever.
adverb
B1
relation
2
For a very long time
For a very long time, sometimes not really forever.
Usage pattern:
[verb] forever
Common mistake:
Learners may think this always means literally 'without end', but in this sense it is exaggeration for 'a very long time'.
Synonyms
endlessly (Similar meaning but less casual; can be literal or figurative.)
Antonyms
briefly (Means lasting for only a short time.)
Collocations
take forever
|wait forever
|go on forever
Themes
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The movie seemed to go on forever.
- I've been waiting forever for the bus.
- It took forever to finish the project.
- Dinner felt like it lasted forever.
- She talks forever about her travels.
Learner examples
- It takes forever to get home.
- We waited forever for the train.
- The class went on forever.
- He talks forever about football.
Noun
literary
B2
entity
3
An endless period of time
Time that never ends.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize 'forever' as a noun is uncommon and often poetic.
Synonyms
eternity (Very close in meaning; more formal and common as a noun.)
Antonyms
moment (A very short period of time, opposite in duration to 'forever'.)
Collocations
into forever
Themes
time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They vowed to be together for a forever.
- The pain felt like a forever.
- He stared into the darkness, imagining it stretching into forever.
Learner examples
- They wanted their love to be a forever.
- It felt like a forever before she came back.
- He dreamed of living in a forever of peace.
Grammar
Dictionary form
forever
IPA
GB/fɚˈɛvɚ/
US/fɚˈɛvɚ/
Syllables & stress
forever (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (forever)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: forever
- Plural: forevers
Word family
Forms
forevers
noun
Core family
ever
adverb A2
Related words
everlasting
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
never
adverb A1
Expressions
forever and ever
1/fɚˈɛvɚ ˈænd ˈɛvɚ/
fixed phrase
Without end, for emphasis
Used to say something lasts for all time, with strong feeling.
Examples
- I will love you forever and ever.
- They promised to be friends forever and ever.
go on forever
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈɔn fɚˈɛvɚ/
fixed phrase
Continue for a very long time
To keep happening or existing for a very long time.
Examples
- The meeting seemed to go on forever.
- Her stories go on forever.
take forever
1/tˈeɪk fɚˈɛvɚ/
fixed phrase
Require a very long time
To need a very long time to finish something.
Examples
- It takes forever to cook this dish.
- This paperwork is taking forever.
wait forever
1/wˈeɪt fɚˈɛvɚ/
fixed phrase
Wait for a very long time
To stay and do nothing for a very long time while expecting something.
Examples
- We had to wait forever for our food.
- She waited forever before he called back.