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eternally

B2
Fairly common

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ɪtˈɜːnəli/

US

  • /iˈtɜrnəli/

Meanings

Adverb

  1. for all time; forever

  2. continually or repeatedly, often with mild exaggeration

Beyond the definition

To say something happens "eternally" is usually to say it goes on forever, without end. It often appears in writing about love, loyalty, memory, beauty, or spiritual ideas, where the feeling is deep and lasting. You might promise to love someone "eternally" or say you are "eternally grateful." In everyday speech, it can also mean always or constantly, often with a touch of humor, as in someone being "eternally late." The word gives a strong sense of permanence, and sometimes of something that seems to go on far beyond ordinary time.

Examples

  1. 1

    Gratitude

    I will be eternally grateful for everything you did for my family.

  2. 2

    Famous role

    For many fans, she will be eternally associated with that role.

    • Patterneternally associated with + person/role/event

      always remembered in connection with it

  3. 3

    Youth ideal

    The company keeps selling the dream of staying eternally young.

  4. 4

    Habitual lateness

    He is eternally late, no matter what time the meeting starts.

    • Usageeternally late

      always late; often emphatic, not literally forever

More examples
  1. 5

    Optimistic attitude

    Even after all those setbacks, she remained eternally optimistic.

See also

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

Used with (collocations)

  • eternally grateful
  • live eternally
  • eternally bound

Word family

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Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • eternallyadverb