eternal
eternal — adjective
1. An eternal thing never comes to an end — it has always existed and will always e
An eternal thing never comes to an end — it has always existed and will always exist, with no final moment of stopping or being destroyed.
The Buddhist monks believed in an eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
collocation: eternal cycle
During their quiet ceremony, João promised his wife eternal love and devotion.
To someone watching from a hilltop, the flow of the river can seem eternal.
Many ancient cultures searched for a way to achieve eternal youth through magic or ritual.
Trang believes that the human soul is eternal and survives the death of the body.
- everlasting
Very close in meaning but slightly less formal; 'everlasting' emphasises continuing without stopping, while 'eternal' emphasises having no beginning or end.
- perpetual
More formal; suggests something that continues without interruption, often in a legal or institutional context (e.g. 'perpetual contract').
- timeless
Focuses on not being affected by time at all — used for art, beauty, or ideas that stay relevant across eras.
文法句型
eternal + noun
be + eternal
用法筆記
Sometimes used in religious or philosophical writing alongside near-synonyms like 'everlasting' or 'immortal'. In everyday speech, 'eternal' tends to carry more weight and finality than 'everlasting'.
常見錯誤
2. You describe something as eternal when it feels as if it will never finish, espe
You describe something as eternal when it feels as if it will never finish, especially because it is boring, annoying, or repeated too many times.
Takeshi grew tired of his neighbour's eternal complaints about the garden fence.
collocation: eternal complaints
Hannah watched the clock during what felt like an eternal wait at the dentist's office.
pattern: an eternal wait
The bus ride across the empty desert seemed eternal to the sleepy children.
Eli's eternal questions about the plan began to wear down the whole team.
Hassan and Noor thought the flight delays were eternal, stretching well into the early morning.
- endless
The most natural synonym for this sense; 'endless wait' sounds more neutral, while 'eternal wait' adds dramatic frustration.
- never-ending
Informal and conversational; used the same way as 'eternal' in this sense.
- incessant
More formal; describes something that continues without pause, especially an unpleasant noise or activity.
文法句型
eternal + noun (complaint/wait/argument)
be + eternal
用法筆記
This sense is almost always a slight exaggeration — the wait or repetition is not truly endless, but feels that way to the speaker. Common with nouns of annoyance (complaints, questions, delays) and often in informal speech.
常見錯誤
eternal — noun
1. In religious language, the Eternal is a name for the divine being who has no beg
In religious language, the Eternal is a name for the divine being who has no beginning or end and exists completely beyond the limits of time.
Beatrix prayed to the Eternal for patience during her long recovery from surgery.
capitalized as proper noun: the Eternal
The pastor spoke of the Eternal as a source of infinite mercy and justice.
Élise found comfort in the belief that the Eternal guided her through every hardship.
The ancient hymn praised the Eternal as the maker of all life and light.
- God
The general term for the supreme being; 'the Eternal' is a narrower, more poetic title focusing on timelessness.
- the Almighty
Another reverential title that emphasises power rather than timelessness.
文法句型
the Eternal
用法筆記
Always used with 'the' and typically capitalized. Found in formal religious writing, hymns, and prayers rather than everyday conversation. Not interchangeable with 'God' in all contexts — 'the Eternal' emphasises God's timeless nature specifically.
2. An eternal is a thing, idea, or principle that never fades, decays, or disappear
An eternal is a thing, idea, or principle that never fades, decays, or disappears — it exists permanently outside the reach of time and change.
The philosopher argued that mathematical truths are eternals whether anyone thinks about them or not.
plural form: eternals
Vivek studied ancient Greek ideas about the eternals that shape the physical world.
Owen argued that justice is an eternal that no government can destroy.
Tanvi studied Plato's theory that perfect forms are eternals beyond the reach of decay.
- permanent
As a noun ('the permanent'), refers to things that last indefinitely, but more concrete than 'eternal'.
文法句型
the eternal(s)
用法筆記
Very rare outside of philosophy or theology. When it appears, it is typically in the plural ('eternals') referring to abstract truths or ideal forms that cannot be destroyed.