timeless
timeless — adjective
1. Something such as a style, work of art, or piece of advice that is timeless neve
Something such as a style, work of art, or piece of advice that is timeless never loses its appeal, relevance, or quality, no matter how much time passes or how fashions change.
Her grandmother’s wedding dress has a timeless elegance that still looks beautiful today.
This novel’s themes of love and loss are timeless — readers across generations connect.
predicative: be + timeless, describing enduring qualities
Yael chose a simple, timeless design for her living room furniture.
The band performed a set of timeless jazz classics that the whole audience loved.
Anong’s advice about staying calm has proven timeless — it still works today.
- ageless
more often used for people or living things that do not appear old (‘an ageless actress’); timeless is more common for objects, ideas, or styles.
- classic
emphasises being a recognised standard of excellence (‘a classic novel’); timeless focuses on resistance to changing fashions.
- enduring
highlights the ability to survive difficulties over time rather than immunity to fashion.
- everlasting
suggests literal endless duration, often in religious or poetic contexts; timeless is less absolute and more about perceived quality.
- dated
something that looks old-fashioned or tied to a specific era.
- old-fashioned
no longer in style or accepted by current tastes.
- fleeting
lasting only a very short time; the opposite of enduring relevance.
文法句型
timeless + noun (elegance, design, appeal, classic)
be / seem / remain / prove + timeless
用法筆記
Frequently used to describe art, design, fashion, literature, or advice that retains its value or appeal across generations.
常見錯誤
❗ 'I bought a timeless dress for the party tonight.' ✅ 'I bought a trendy dress for the party tonight.' — 'timeless' does not mean 'fashionable for a short time'; it means something stays appealing forever.
❗ 'The meeting was timeless, only five minutes long.' ✅ 'The meeting was brief, only five minutes long.' — 'timeless' refers to lasting quality, not short duration.
2. Existing without any fixed beginning or end in time; continuing forever without
Existing without any fixed beginning or end in time; continuing forever without being limited by time’s passage.
The ancient temple seemed to belong to a timeless world, untouched by modern life.
attributive: timeless + noun expressing a state or place
Sana felt a deep timeless peace while watching the sun rise over the ocean.
Some philosophers argue that the universe itself is timeless, with no moment of creation.
The love between the elderly couple appeared timeless, as strong as on their wedding day.
In many religious traditions the soul is considered timeless, existing before birth and after death.
- eternal
the closest synonym; eternal also means without beginning or end but is more common in religious contexts.
- infinite
stresses endless extent or quantity rather than time specifically; can describe space, possibility, or number.
- everlasting
emphasises continued existence into the future without end; timeless can also imply no beginning.
- perpetual
focuses on continuous, uninterrupted occurrence rather than existence outside of time.
文法句型
timeless + noun (world, peace, love, universe)
be / seem + timeless
be considered + timeless
用法筆記
This sense is more literary or philosophical than sense 1. It is less common in everyday conversation and often appears in discussions of religion, metaphysics, or deep personal experiences.
常見錯誤
❗ 'I bought a timeless watch that will never break.' ✅ 'I bought a durable watch that will last a long time.' — 'timeless' does not mean physically long-lasting or unbreakable; it means not affected by the passage of time in a figurative sense.