everlasting
/ˌevəˈlɑːstɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌevərˈlæstɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌe-vər-ˈla-stiŋ/ (ame, mw)
everlasting — adjective
- everlastingpositive
- more everlastingcomparative
- most everlastingsuperlative
1. existing or continuing without ever ending — used to describe something that las
existing or continuing without ever ending — used to describe something that lasts for all time or for a very long period, such as a quality, memory, or relationship.
Esteban and Sayaka made everlasting promises to one another at their wedding ceremony.
everlasting + noun (promises) for permanent commitment
The author's everlasting impact on young readers can still be felt today.
everlasting + noun (impact) — long-lasting effect
Jude believed that true friendship leaves an everlasting mark on the heart.
Ari looked at the stars and wondered if the universe was truly everlasting.
Shanti's everlasting kindness toward strangers inspired her whole community.
- eternal
more formal; suggests existence outside time, often used in religious contexts
- perpetual
emphasises uninterrupted continuity; common for ongoing states or problems
- endless
more informal; suggests something with no limit or finish
- undying
used primarily with emotions or qualities like love, gratitude, or loyalty
文法句型
everlasting + noun
be + everlasting
常見錯誤
2. continuing for such a long time that it becomes annoying or boring — also used i
continuing for such a long time that it becomes annoying or boring — also used informally to make a negative quality or situation sound even worse or more tiresome.
The lecture felt everlasting, and several students began to check their phones.
informal: feelings of impatience or boredom
Eliska was exhausted by the everlasting noise from the construction site next door.
everlasting + noun for annoying repetition
Zayd's everlasting complaints about the airport delays began to tire his friends.
Shirin found the queue at the passport office to be an everlasting wait.
- interminable
more formal; suggests something boringly long
- never-ending
informal; emphasises that something feels like it has no finish
- brief
short in duration; the opposite of annoyingly long
文法句型
everlasting + noun (for annoying repetition)
用法筆記
This sense carries a negative or impatient tone. It often appears informally to express frustration with repeated or drawn-out situations. The subject is usually something unpleasant — noise, complaints, delays, arguments.
常見錯誤
everlasting — noun
1. time without any beginning or end; a never-ending state of existence that contin
time without any beginning or end; a never-ending state of existence that continues beyond ordinary human experience.
At his grandmother's funeral, Ilan stared at an old photograph and quietly thought of the everlasting.
noun use: the everlasting
In her poetry, Allison wrote of the everlasting as a peaceful sea of light.
During a night hike in the desert, Tendai looked up at the stars and whispered about the everlasting.
Erik sat on the wooden dock beside the lake, watching the ripples fade and wondering about the everlasting.
文法句型
the everlasting
用法筆記
Used mainly in literary, religious, or philosophical writing. It almost always appears with the definite article as 'the everlasting'.
2. the eternal being who is worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe in
the eternal being who is worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe in Christianity and other monotheistic faiths that believe in one God without beginning or end.
The congregation bowed their heads and prayed to the Everlasting.
capitalised: the Everlasting as a name for God
Missionaries spoke of the Everlasting as a source of unfailing mercy.
Ilan thanked the Everlasting for the safe return of his brother from overseas.
The monk spent his days in quiet meditation, devoted to the Everlasting.
- God
the most common term; 'the Everlasting' is a poetic or formal alternative
- the Almighty
another reverential title emphasising power rather than timelessness
文法句型
the Everlasting
用法筆記
Always capitalised as 'the Everlasting' when used as a name for God. Found primarily in Christian and Jewish devotional or theological language. Less common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
3. any of several types of plants whose flowers keep their shape and colour after b
any of several types of plants whose flowers keep their shape and colour after being cut and dried, making them popular for dried flower decoration.
Tendai bought several bunches of everlasting from the flower market for drying.
everlasting as a plant name
Everlasting grows well in dry, sunny areas and keeps its colour through winter.
The botanical garden had a section filled with everlasting and other dried flowers.
Farmers in this region harvest everlasting for the dried flower export industry.
- strawflower
a specific genus of everlasting plants with papery petals
- immortelle
another term for dried-flower plants, from French
文法句型
everlasting as a plant name
用法筆記
A technical term in horticulture and floristry. Common species include pearly everlasting (Anaphalis) and strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum). May be treated as countable ('three everlastings') or uncountable ('a bunch of everlasting').
4. the dried individual blossom from an everlasting plant, commonly used for decora
the dried individual blossom from an everlasting plant, commonly used for decoration in arrangements, crafts, or pressed-flower art.
Shanti pressed an everlasting between the pages of her favourite novel.
the dried flower itself (countable)
The everlasting retained its bright yellow colour even months after being cut.
Eliska glued a small everlasting onto each of her handmade birthday cards.
The dried everlasting added a touch of golden colour to the winter arrangement.
文法句型
an everlasting (as a single flower)
用法筆記
Refers specifically to the individual dried flower head, not the whole plant (see sense 3 for the plant itself). Can be counted: 'several everlastings'.