eternity
gb/ɪtˈɚnəti/ us/ɪtˈɚnəti/
B1
英語
~ 5400
語義
0件の語義
名詞
B1
quantity
1
a very, very long time
A very long time that feels like it never ends, but actually does end.
用法パターン：
wait [an eternity] for [something]
よくある間違い：
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.
類義語
ages (Informal; a very long time, similar exaggeration used in everyday speech.)
対義語
moment (Suggests a very short period, opposite of a time that feels endlessly long.)
コロケーション
seem like an eternity
|take an eternity
|wait an eternity
|felt like an eternity
|last an eternity
テーマ
time
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
例文
- 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.
学習者向け例文
- 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.
名詞
B2
state
2
time without an end
Time that never stops or ends.
用法パターン：
for (all) eternity
よくある間違い：
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.
類義語
forever (Common adverb with a very similar meaning; often used instead of 'for all eternity' in everyday language.)
対義語
temporariness (Refers to something lasting only for a limited time, opposite of endless duration.)
コロケーション
for all eternity
|throughout eternity
|into eternity
|in all eternity
|from eternity to eternity
テーマ
time
|philosophy
|religion
|core_vocabulary
例文
- 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.
学習者向け例文
- 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.
名詞
C1
state
3
endless life after death
The never-ending life that some religions say people have after they die.
用法パターン：
spend eternity in [a place/state]
よくある間違い：
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.
類義語
afterlife (General term for life after death; does not always emphasize that it is endless, but often used in a similar religious context.)
対義語
nonexistence (Suggests that nothing of a person continues after death, opposite to an eternal afterlife.)
コロケーション
spend eternity in heaven
|spend eternity in hell
|enter eternity
|face eternity
|saved for eternity
テーマ
religion
|philosophy
|death
|time
例文
- 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.
学習者向け例文
- 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.
文法
表現
for all eternity
1/fɚ ˈɔl ɪtˈɚnəti/
fixed phrase
for time without end
For a time that never stops; forever.
例文
- 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.
例文
- 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).
例文
- 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.
例文
- 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.
例文
- 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.