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. Also: for 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. 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

There was one in particular from Santa Monica whom I thought after two years of dating was my forever.

From Los Angeles Times

And for Moyer, whom she still texts today, Jones got a necklace with Harper, the name of Moyer’s character, on the front and “Sisters forever” on the back.

From Los Angeles Times

“When you’re young, you think you’re going to be the first human being not to die and you’ll live forever. Then you have to start acknowledging that death is a possibility.”

From Los Angeles Times

Levy will also be forever associated with instability, including a revolving door of 12 sacked managers as Spurs reached 16 semi-finals and seven finals, not including the recent Uefa Super Cup.

From BBC

We’ve always gone through difficult moments, but those moments don’t last forever.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• always 
• endlessly www.thesaurus.com
• eternally 
• permanently www.thesaurus.com