Dictionary

forever en · ADJ

Pronunciation

(US) audio
/fəˈɹɛvə(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/fɔɹˈɛvɚ/ (General-American)
/fɚˈɛvɚ/ (General-American)
/fəˈɹɛvɚ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *pr̥h₂-i Proto-Germanic *furi Proto-West Germanic *furi Old English for Middle English for English for Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-West Germanic *aiwder. Old English ā Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Germanic *in Proto-West Germanic *in Old English in Proto-Indo-European *perkʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *pérkus Proto-Germanic *ferhuzder.? Proto-Germanic *ferhwą Proto-West Germanic *ferh Old English feorh ? Old English ǣfre Middle English ever English ever univ. English forever Univerbation of for ever, from Middle English for ever, for evere. By surface analysis, for + ever. First attested in the late 14c., and first attested in the late 17c. as one word. Noun first attested in 1858.

Meanings

(informal, not-comparable) Permanent, lasting; constant, perpetual.
- He is a forever friend. 2012, Brad Hicks, For Every Fear a Promise, page 96:
- It'd be a peaceful life / With a forever wife / And a kid someday 1971, Bruce Johnston, "Disney Girls (1957)":
- Danner posits that the United States has been trapped in a "forever war" by 9/11, and describes a nation that has been altered in fundamental ways by President Bush's having declared a war of choice and without an exit plan, […] 2016, Mark Danner, Spiral: Trapped in the Forever War:
- We'll take care of you and help you find a Forever Home. 2009, Kathy Kadilak, Tommy Finds His Forever Home, page 3:

Forms

Spelling	Labels	Source
fore'er	alternative	lexicographic
for e'er	alternative	lexicographic
for ever	UK, alternative	lexicographic
Forever	alternative, noun, poetic	lexicographic

Deriveds

forever war

forever en · ADV

Pronunciation

(US) audio
/fəˈɹɛvə(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/fɔɹˈɛvɚ/ (General-American)
/fɚˈɛvɚ/ (General-American)
/fəˈɹɛvɚ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *pr̥h₂-i Proto-Germanic *furi Proto-West Germanic *furi Old English for Middle English for English for Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-West Germanic *aiwder. Old English ā Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Germanic *in Proto-West Germanic *in Old English in Proto-Indo-European *perkʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *pérkus Proto-Germanic *ferhuzder.? Proto-Germanic *ferhwą Proto-West Germanic *ferh Old English feorh ? Old English ǣfre Middle English ever English ever univ. English forever Univerbation of for ever, from Middle English for ever, for evere. By surface analysis, for + ever. First attested in the late 14c., and first attested in the late 17c. as one word. Noun first attested in 1858.

Meanings

(not-comparable) For all time, for all eternity; for a lifetime; for an infinite amount of time.
- Secondly, When a body is once in motion it will continue to move forever, unless something stops it. When a ball is struck on the surface of the earth, the friction of the earth and the resistance of the air soon stop its motion. 1839, Denison Olmsted, A Compendium of Astronomy, page 95:
- If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — for ever. 1949, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four:
- I shall love you forever.
(colloquial, excessive, not-comparable) For a very long time, a seeming eternity.
- Anything in the world of transport takes forever to do, and costs far too much. 2024 February 7, Lee Waters tells Conrad Landin, “A mission to improve transport for Wales”, in RAIL, number 1002, page 35:
- That was forever ago.
- She and Serena had been friends forever. Or nearly forever: forty-two years, beginning with Miss Kimmel's first grade. 1988, Anne Tyler, chapter 1, in Breathing Lessons:
- We had to wait forever to get inside.
(not-comparable, qualifier:frequency) Constantly or frequently.
- Early in his boyhood he had learned to form ropes by twisting and tying long grasses together, and with these he was forever tripping Tublat or attempting to hang him from some overhanging branch. 1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as chapter 5, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC:
- I'm a B student 'cas I'm forever getting B-, B, and B+. 1965 January 7, Lou Sullivan, Diary:
- You are forever nagging me.

Forms

Spelling	Labels	Source
for ever	UK, alternative	lexicographic
for e'er	alternative	lexicographic
fore'er	alternative	lexicographic
Forever	alternative, noun, poetic	lexicographic

Translations (173)

de ewig ((colloquially) for a very long time) · da for altid (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ru постоя́нно ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · de ewig ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · hu örökké (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · gd gu bràth (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ja 常しえに (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · pl na zawżdy (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · fi ikuisesti (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · am ለዘለዓለም (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · be назаўжды (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · mh indeeo (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · clt chuozaa (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · it per sempre (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ro întotdeauna (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sv för evigt (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · am ዘለአለም (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · vi mãi mãi (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · nb for alltid (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · tl magpakailanman (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · nv hoolʼáágóó (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · tpi oltaim (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · th นิรันดร (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · pdt eewichlich (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · fy ivich (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · es constantemente ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · el αιώνια (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · cmn 永遠 /永远 (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · crh ebediyen (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · pt para sempre (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ug مەڭگۈ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ja 永遠に ((colloquially) for a very long time) · nl steed ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · ca per a sempre (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ru це́лую ве́чность ((colloquially) for an excessively long time) · io omnatempe (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · uk навічно (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ko 영원(永遠)히 (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sw milele ((colloquially) for a very long time) · la in omne tempus (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sa सर्वदा (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sw milele ((colloquially) for an excessively long time) · sv för alltid (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · pl po wsze czasy (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · km រហូត (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · fr pour toujours (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · hu örökké ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · csb na wiedno (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ru всегда́ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ja とわに (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · fi ikuisuuden ((colloquially) for a very long time) · cy am byth (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · uk наві́к (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ka მარად (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · nl altijd ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · ga go bráth (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · cop ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · eo ĉiam (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · de ständig ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · uz doimiy (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · de unaufhörlich (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · be наве́чна (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ga de shíor ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · tr sonsuza dek (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · cmn 永久 (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · pl na zawsze ((colloquially) for an excessively long time) · nl een eeuwigheid ((colloquially) for a very long time) · nl tijden ((colloquially) for a very long time) · uk вічно ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · mk засекогаш (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sh заувек (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · mt għal dejjem (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · he לעולם (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ja 永遠に (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · hi सदा ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · de für immer (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ru наве́чно (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · pl na zawsze (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sw milele ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · hi सदा का (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · uk назавжди́ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · br da viken (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ur ہمیشہ کے لئے (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · crh bütünley (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ro pe vecie (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sw milele (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · is að eilífu (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ru ве́чно ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · nl eeuwig ((colloquially) for an excessively long time) · tr daima (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · uk цілу вічність ((colloquially) for a very long time) · gd gu sìorraidh (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · nl eeuwen ((colloquially) for a very long time) · es para siempre (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · nn for alltid (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · hi कभी के लिए (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ja 永久に (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · de ewig ((colloquially) for an excessively long time) · uz abadiy (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · uk навіки (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · es por siempre ((colloquially) for an excessively long time) · fa برای همیشه (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · hy հավետ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · io sempre (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · chr ᎢᎪᎯᏛ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · cs navždy (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · chr ᎢᎪᎯᏓᏊᎨᏒ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · pl cały czas ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · de für eger (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ms selama-lamanya (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · nl eindeloos ((colloquially) for an excessively long time) · la in perpetuum (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · vi vĩnh viễn (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · fr à jamais (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · haw mau loa (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · am ለዘላለም (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · hy ընդմիշտ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sa सनातन (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · eo por eterno (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · bg навеки ((colloquially) for a very long time) · sa सर्वकालम् (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · uk ві́чно (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · mnc ᡝᠨᡨᡝᡥᡝᠮᡝ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ca per sempre (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · de auf immer (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · de unaufhörlich ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · de für immer ((colloquially) for an excessively long time) · be наве́кі (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · es sin cesar ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · fi aina ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · sv alltid ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · sh zauvijek (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · fi ikiajoiksi (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ka სამუდამოდ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · la aeternō (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · bg завинаги (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · hu örökre (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · crh ömürlik (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ru ве́чно (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · th ตลอดไป (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · gd a-chaoidh (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · he לנצח (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · hi हमेशा के लिए (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ar إِلَى الْأَبَد (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · grc διὰ παντός (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · cs na věky (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · yi אויף אייביק (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ang on ēcnesse (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · nl eeuwig (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ga go deo (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ru навсегда́ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ka მუდამ (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · fy ivich ((colloquially) for a very long time) · ru це́лую ве́чность ((colloquially) for a very long time) · be цэлую вечнасць ((colloquially) for a very long time) · fi ikuisuuden ((colloquially) for an excessively long time) · uk наза́вжди (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · la perpetuum (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · grc ἀεί (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sh заувијек (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · esu akwarpak (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · de ewig (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · de für immer ((colloquially) for a very long time) · hu mindörökké (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · nl (voor) altijd (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · tr sonsuza kadar (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · ru наве́ки (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · pl całą wieczność ((colloquially) for a very long time) · de andauernd ((colloquially) constantly or frequently) · am ዘለዓለም (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · sh zauvek (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · uk назавше (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time) · kw bys vykken (for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time)

forever en · NOUN

Pronunciation

(US) audio
/fəˈɹɛvə(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/fɔɹˈɛvɚ/ (General-American)
/fɚˈɛvɚ/ (General-American)
/fəˈɹɛvɚ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *pr̥h₂-i Proto-Germanic *furi Proto-West Germanic *furi Old English for Middle English for English for Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-West Germanic *aiwder. Old English ā Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Germanic *in Proto-West Germanic *in Old English in Proto-Indo-European *perkʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *pérkus Proto-Germanic *ferhuzder.? Proto-Germanic *ferhwą Proto-West Germanic *ferh Old English feorh ? Old English ǣfre Middle English ever English ever univ. English forever Univerbation of for ever, from Middle English for ever, for evere. By surface analysis, for + ever. First attested in the late 14c., and first attested in the late 17c. as one word. Noun first attested in 1858.

Meanings

(colloquial, countable) An extremely long time.
- In the airport, holiday lovers kiss, mouth forevers, the usual argot betrays you. Desire makes love dull. 2007, Ruth O'Callaghan, Where acid has etched:
- I haven't seen him in forever!
- It took me forever to make up my mind.
- She should've been here five forevers ago!
- It's been a fortnight of forevers since the Braves could count on a late-game comeback. 2001 September, Michael Knisley, “The Braves' last stand”, in Sporting News, volume 225, number 36, page 12:
- Don't spend forever on the phone!
(colloquial, poetic, uncountable) A mythical time in the future that will never come.
- Sure, I'd be happy to meet with you on the 12th of forever.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
for ever		UK, alternative	lexicographic
Forever		alternative, noun, poetic	lexicographic
for e'er		alternative	lexicographic
forevers	Number=Plur		lexicographic
fore'er		alternative	lexicographic

Translations (3)

fi ikuisuus (extremely long time) · es eternidad (mythical time in the infinite future) · fi iäisyys (mythical time in the infinite future)

forever en · ADJ

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Deriveds

forever en · ADV

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Antonyms

Deriveds

Hypernyms

Relateds

Synonyms

Translations (173)

forever en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Translations (3)