eternal
ee-TUR-nul
/ɪˈtɜːrnəl/
Lasting or existing forever; without end or beginning.
Often used in a spiritual or philosophical context to describe things outside of time itself, rather than just things that last a long time.
The story behind the word. The word traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root 'aiw-', meaning 'vital force' or 'long life.' It evolved through Latin 'aevum' to describe not just a long life, but a state of being that never ends. It captures the human desire to find something that transcends the ticking clock.
Word relationships
- everlasting: Everlasting usually implies having a beginning but no end, while eternal often implies being outside of time entirely.
- infinite: Infinite refers to size or quantity, whereas eternal refers specifically to duration.
- ephemeral: Ephemeral describes something that lasts for a very short time, like a dayfly.
- transient: Transient implies something that is passing through and will not stay.
Commonly confused with
- perpetual: Perpetual describes something that keeps going without stopping, while eternal describes something that exists forever.
Word family
- eternity (noun): Infinite or unending time.
- eternalize (verb): To make something last forever.
Collocations
- eternal life
- eternal flame
- eternal truth
- eternal gratitude
Idioms & expressions
- hope springs eternal
Example sentences
- "The poet spoke of the eternal beauty of the soul, which remains untouched by the ravages of age." Literature
- "But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st." Classic Literature
Memory hook
Think of the 'E' and 'L' at the ends of the word as 'Endless Love'—something that is eternal. Eternal = Endless.
When not to use
Avoid using for physical objects that will eventually decay, like a 'durable' pair of boots.
Fun facts
- The 'Eternal City' is a common nickname for Rome, first used by the poet Tibullus in the 1st century BC.
Related words
Explore more words
temporal, perpetual, perennial, impermanent, evergreen, metaphysical
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