SKIP TO CONTENT

forever

/fəˈrɛvər/
/fəˈrɛvə/
IPA guide

Things that last forever never come to an end — they continue endlessly. An experience that changes you forever alters you in ways that will last the rest of your life.

The adverb forever literally means "eternally," so when you promise, "I'll love you forever." you mean it. You can also use forever in a less literal, more exaggerated way: "It is taking forever for the bus to get here," or to mean "without stopping," as when you comment that the rain can't continue forever. The word combines for and ever, which stems from the Old English æfre, "always."

Definitions of forever
  1. adverb
    for a limitless time
    “no one can live forever
  2. adverb
    for a very long or seemingly endless time
    “she took forever to write the paper”
    “we had to wait forever and a day”
    synonyms: forever and a day
  3. adverb
    without interruption
Pronunciation
US
/fəˈrɛvər/
UK
/fəˈrɛvə/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘forever'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family