infinity

infinity — noun

1. The condition of continuing without any boundary or stopping point, especially w

1.名詞B1
釋義

The condition of continuing without any boundary or stopping point, especially when thinking about the universe, time, or a quantity that never ends.

例句

Joon stared at the stars, trying to understand the idea of infinity.

the idea of infinity — abstract concept

The teacher explained that infinity has no beginning and no end.

同義詞
  • endlessness

    more concrete and everyday; less abstract than infinity

  • boundlessness

    more formal or literary; emphasizes the lack of limits

  • limitlessness

    similar to boundlessness, slightly less formal

反義詞
  • finity

    rare; the state of having limits

  • limitation

    different concept; refers to a specific restriction rather than the opposite of boundlessness

文法句型

the infinity of + noun (space, time, universe)

to / into infinity

用法筆記

Often used with 'of' to connect to a specific boundless thing, as in 'the infinity of space' or 'the infinity of time.' Common in philosophical, scientific, and poetic contexts.

常見錯誤

The ocean stretched to eternity.
The ocean stretched to infinity.
💡'eternity' refers only to endless time, while 'infinity' covers both endless time and endless space.

2. A very distant location that appears unreachable, commonly describing something

2.名詞B2
釋義

A very distant location that appears unreachable, commonly describing something moving away until it can no longer be seen.

例句

Gabriel watched the train move toward the mountains and disappear into infinity.

disappear into infinity — receding beyond sight

The dirt road stretched to infinity, with no houses or cars in sight.

同義詞
  • the horizon

    more specific; the visible line where earth meets sky

  • the distance

    less dramatic; simply a faraway point

  • the beyond

    more poetic or literary; suggests something mysterious

文法句型

into infinity

to infinity

disappear / fade / recede into infinity

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the phrase 'into infinity' following verbs of movement or disappearance such as 'stretch,' 'fade,' 'disappear,' or 'recede.'

常見錯誤

The mountain range went to the infinity.
The mountain range stretched into infinity.
💡'infinity' in this sense usually does not take the definite article 'the' and follows 'into' rather than 'to.'

3. In mathematics, a quantity that is greater than any number that can be named, us

3.名詞B2
釋義

In mathematics, a quantity that is greater than any number that can be named, used in calculations about limits, series, and geometry, and shown by the symbol ∞.

例句

Faisal learned that in calculus the symbol ∞ stands for infinity.

symbol ∞ stands for infinity

The number line stretches in both directions without ever reaching infinity.

同義詞
  • the infinite

    noun form used in formal mathematics and philosophy

  • limitlessness

    less technical; describes the quality rather than the mathematical concept

反義詞
  • zero

    the opposite end of the number line in some contexts

文法句型

approach infinity

toward infinity

the symbol for infinity

用法筆記

In mathematics, infinity is not a number you can add, subtract, or multiply — it is a concept describing something without an upper bound. Frequently used in calculus when discussing limits.

常見錯誤

Infinity is the biggest number.
Infinity is not a number
💡it is a concept for something without any limit.' — In math, you cannot use infinity in ordinary arithmetic like you would with actual numbers.

4. An amount or number that is so big it is hard to count or even picture.

4.名詞B1
釋義

An amount or number that is so big it is hard to count or even picture.

例句

Quan had an infinity of apps on his phone and could not pick one.

an infinity of [apps/choices/things] — huge quantity

Adisa discovered there were an infinity of reasons to love his new city.

同義詞
  • countless

    adjective meaning too many to count; more common in everyday writing

  • myriad

    more formal or literary; suggests great variety as well as number

  • a huge number

    less emphatic; simply means very many

反義詞

文法句型

an infinity of + plural noun

用法筆記

Used hyperbolically in everyday speech to mean 'a very large number' rather than literally endless. The phrase 'an infinity of' emphasizes that the number feels overwhelming or uncountable.

常見錯誤

There are infinity choices.
There are an infinity of choices.
💡In this sense, 'infinity' must be preceded by the article 'an' and followed by 'of.'