Forever

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /fəˈɹɛvÉ™(ɹ)/
• US IPA: /fəɹˈɛvÉš/
• Rhymes: -É›vÉ™(r)

Alternative forms

• for ever

Full definition of forever

Adverb

1. (duration) for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time.''I shall love you forever.
• 1839, Denison Olmsted, A Compendium of Astronomy Page 95Secondly, 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.
2. (duration, colloquial) for a very long time, 'an' eternity.''We had to wait forever to get inside.
3. (frequency) constantly or frequently.''You are forever nagging me.
• 1912: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, Chapter 5Early 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.

Usage notes

In the United Kingdom and most of the Commonwealth, the spelling for ever may be used instead of forever for the senses "for all time" and "for a long time". In Canada and the United States, generally only forever is used, regardless of sense.

Synonyms

• always
• continually
• eternally
• evermore
• for good
• forevermore
• for ever more
• incessantly
• until Kingdom come

Derived terms

• foreverness

Related terms

• everlasting
• every
• everyday
• never
• nevermore
• whatever
• whenever
• whoever

Noun

1. An extremely long time.
• 2001, September, Michael Knisley, The Braves' last stand, It's been a fortnight of forevers since the Braves could count on a late-game comeback.
• 2007, Ruth O'Callaghan, Where acid has etchedIn the airport, holiday lovers kiss, mouth forevers, the usual argot betrays you. Desire makes love dull.
2. (colloquial) a mythical time in the infinite future that will never come.''Sure, I'd be happy to meet with you on the 12th of forever.