forever

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   for a limitless time

   no one can live forever

2. 2
   adv

   for a very long or seemingly endless time

   It took me forever to write the paper.

3. 3
   adv

   For all time, for all eternity; for a lifetime; for an infinite amount of time.

   I shall love you forever.

4. 4
   adv

   For a very long time, a seeming eternity.

   We had to wait forever to get inside.

5. 5
   adv

   Constantly or frequently.

   You are forever nagging me.

6. 6
   noun

   An extremely long time.

   I haven't seen him in forever!

7. 7
   noun

   A mythical time in the future that will never come.

   Sure, I'd be happy to meet with you on the 12th of forever.

8. 8
   adj

   Permanent, lasting; constant, perpetual.

   It'd be a peaceful life / With a forever wife / And a kid someday

Etymology

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.