forever

[ fawr-ev-er, fer- ]

adverb

1. without ever ending; eternally:

   Like the memory of her laughter, the love for her in our hearts will last forever.

2. continually; incessantly; always:

   He's forever complaining.

noun

1. an endless or seemingly endless period of time:

   It took them forever to make up their minds.

adjective

1. lasting for an endless period of time; permanent:

   The stray dog is staying with us until we can find a forever home for it.

forever

/ fɔːˈrɛvə; fə- /

adverb

1. Alsofor ever without end; everlastingly; eternally
2. at all times; incessantly
3. informal.
   for a very long time

   he went on speaking forever

noun

1. informal.
   as object a very long time

   it took him forever to reply

2. …forever!
   an exclamation expressing support or loyalty

   Scotland forever!

Usage

Forever and for ever can both be used to say that something is without end. For all other meanings, forever is the preferred form

Word History and Origins

Origin of forever¹

First recorded in 1300–50; originally a prepositional phrase for ever

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. forever and a day, eternally; always:

   They pledged to love each other forever and a day.

Example Sentences

Each member of this innocent family has had their lives forever changed in a flash.

From Salon

And though it can never be recreated in exactly the same way, even for Coachella’s upcoming second weekend, it will live on forever.

From Salon

This administration is rapidly constructing a legal framework that would allow it to abruptly disappear anyone, including natural-born U.S. citizens, to a foreign prison forever, for any reason it chooses, or no reason at all.

From Salon

“I think of that as the night when the course of popular music changed forever.”

From Los Angeles Times

He said he was hopeful the two sides would soon find a solution as "this sort of stuff can't go on forever".

From BBC

Related Words

• always
• endlessly
• eternally
• permanently

Quiz

Q: Fill in the blank: "Salchipapas" is a portmanteau of the Spanish words for ______ and ______.

• salt and potatoes
• sausage and French fries
• sardines and French fries

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