everlasting
Syllables: ever·last·ingUK/ˌɛvəˈlɑːstɪŋ//ˌɛvəɹˈlæstɪŋ/
everlasting adjective: lasting or enduring forever; endless, eternal. Also the obsolete abbreviation of everlasting trimming.
Adjective
everlasting (comparative more everlasting, superlative most everlasting)
- Lasting or enduring forever; endless, eternal.
- And vvhether vve ſhall meete againe, I knovv not: / Therefore our euerlaſting farevvell take: / For euer, and for euer, farevvell, Caſſius, / If vve do meete againe, vvhy vve ſhall ſmile; / If not, vvhy then this parting vvas vvell made.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
- And I will giue vnto thee, and to thy ſeed after thee, the land wherein thou art a ſtranger, all the land of Canaan, for an euerlaſting poſſeſſion, and I will be their God.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 17:8, signature B2, recto, column 2
- Chiefly of a deity or other supernatural being: having always existed and will continue to exist forever; eternal.
- And Abraham planted trees at Berſeba, and called vpon the name of the LORDE yͤ euerlaſting God, and was a ſtraunger in yͤ londe of the Philiſtynes a longe ſeaſon.1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Genesis...
- For vnto vs a child [Jesus] is borne, vnto vs a Sonne is giuen, and the gouernment ſhalbe vpon his ſhoulder: and his name ſhalbe called, Wonderfull, Counſeller, The mightie God, The euerlaſting Father, The Prince of peace.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 9:6, signature [Mmm4], verso, column 2
- Synonym of sempiternal (“having infinite temporal duration, rather than outside time and thus lacking temporal duration altogether”).
- Continuing for a long period; eternal.
- this everlasting nonsense
- And it [this History] is compiled rather for an Everlasting Possession, then to be rehearſed for a Prize.1629, Thucydides, “The First Booke”, in Thomas Hobbes, transl., Eight Bookes of the Peloponnesian Warre […], London: […] Hen[ry] Seile, […], →OCLC, page 13
- Happening all the time, especially to a tiresome extent; constant, incessant, unending.
- It is never dark here, you are novv come to the Country of Everlaſting Day; VVhat think you? Is not this Eliſium?1725, [Daniel Defoe], “Part II”, in A New Voyage Round the World, by a Course Never Sailed before. […], London: […] A[rthur] Bettesworth, […]; and W. Mears, […], →OCLC, page 99
- I'll diſpatch Them as ſoon as I can, but Heaven knovvs vvhen I ſhall get rid of Them, for They are both everlaſting Goſſips; […]1761 February 12 (first performance), George Colman, The Jealous Wife: A Comedy. […], London: […] J[ohn] Newbery, […]; T. Becket, and Company, […]; T[homas] Davies, […]; W. Jackson, […]; and...
- Of clothing or fabric: lasting a long time; very durable or hard-wearing.
- Adr[iana]. VVhere is thy Maſter Dromio? Is he vvell? / S. Dro. [Dromio of Syracuse] No, he's in Tartar limbo, vvorſe than hell: / A diuell in an euerlaſting garment hath him; / On vvhoſe hard heart is button'd vp vvith ſteele: / A Feind, a Fairie, pittileſſe and ruffe: / A VVolfe, nay vvorſe, a...c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
- [W]ere't not for my ſmooth, ſoft, ſilken Citizen, I vvould quit this tranſitorie trade, get mee an euerlaſting robe, ſeare vp my conſcience, and turne Serieant.1606 (date written), [Francis Beaumont; John Fletcher], The Woman Hater. […], London: […] [Robert Raworth], and are to be sold by John Hodgets […], published 1607, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii, signature...
- Having flowers that retain their colour and form when dried.
- Of a plant or plant part: synonym of perennial (“active throughout the year, or having a life cycle of more than two growing seasons”).
- The roote is threddy, like the roote of the ſecond kinde of Scrophularia, and is euer[-]laſting, putting forth yearely new ſprings, as alſo doth the rootes of the other two Scrophularies.1578, Rembert Dodoens, “Of Water Betony⸝ or Broune-wurte”, in Henry Lyte, transl., A Niewe Herball, or Historie of Plantes: […], London: […] [Henry [i.e., Hendrik van der] Loë for] Gerard Dewes, […]...
- [T]he ſtalkes and leaues of this [Telephium sempervirum or virens] indure alſo the ſharpneſſe of vvinter, and therefore vve may call it in Engliſh Orpin euerlaſting, or neuer dying Orpin.1597, John Gerarde [i.e., John Gerard], “Of the Smaller Orpins”, in The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes. […], London: […] Edm[und] Bollifant, for Bonham and Iohn Norton, →OCLC, book II, page...
- Used as an intensifier.
- The everlastin’ cus he stuck his one-pronged pitchfork in me / An’ made a hole right thru my close ez ef I wuz an in’my.1848, [James Russell Lowell], “No. II. A Letter from Mr. Hosea Biglow to the Hon. J. T. Buckingham, Editor of the Boston Courier, Covering a Letter from Mr. B. Sawin, Private in the Massachusetts...
- "Come home now," he cried, "an' stop yet jawin', er I'll lam the everlasting head off yehs."1896, Stephen Crane, chapter I, in Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC, page 8
Adverb
everlasting (comparative more everlasting, superlative most everlasting)
- Used as an intensifier: extremely, very.
- […] Miranda’s impression, conveyed in privacy to Jane, was that Hannah was close as the bark of a tree, and consid’able selfish too; that when she’d clim’ as fur as she could in the world, she’d kick the ladder out from under her, everlastin’ quick; […]1903 October, Kate Douglas Wiggin, “The Hill Difficulty”, in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC, page 246
- The Jones man was looking at her hard. Now he reached into the hatch of his vest and fetched out a couple of cigars, everlasting big ones, with gilt bands on 'em.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter X, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC, pages 248–249
- In an everlasting (adjective sense 1) manner; forever.
- You your ſelves in the opinion of this everlaſting talkative Advocate of the King, your accuſer, vvent more than half-vvay tovvards it; […]1692, John Milton, chapter X, in [Joseph Washington], transl., A Defence of the People of England, […]: In Answer to Salmasius’s Defence of the King, [London?]: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 220
Noun
everlasting (countable and uncountable, plural everlastings)
- Chiefly with a descriptive word: short for everlasting flower (“any of several plants, chiefly of the family Asteraceae (principally the tribe Gnaphalieae), having flowers that retain their colour and form when dried; also, a flower of such a plant”)
- This yellovv Euerlaſting or Floure-Gentle, called of the later Herbariſts Yellovv Strœcas, is a plant that hath ſtalkes of a ſpan long, […] The floures ſtand on the tops of the ſtalks, […] of a bright yellovv colour; vvhich being gathered before they be ripe, do keep their colour and beauty a long...1633, John Gerarde [i.e., John Gerard], Thomas Johnson, “Of Golden Floure-gentle”, in The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes. […], enlarged edition, London: […] Adam Islip, Joice Norton and...
- With a backward look Small said, “What a lovely lily!” / “Well enough but strong-smelling, gaudy. Come see the everlastings.”1942, Emily Carr, “The Orange Lily”, in The Book of Small, Toronto, Ont.: Oxford University Press, →OCLC; republished as The Book of Small (eBook; 0400201.txt), [Australia]: Project Gutenberg...
- Preceded by the: someone or something that lasts forever, or that that has always existed and will continue to exist forever; an eternal, an immortal; specifically (Christianity), God.
- [T]he people of Thebais in Ægipt, reiected all the ſaid abſurdities of many Goddes, ſaying that there was none other God but only he whom they called Cnef [Kneph?], which was neuer borne, nor could euer dye, that is to ſay the Euerlaſting.1587, Philip of Mornay [i.e., Philippe de Mornay], “That the Wisdome of the World hath Acknowledged One Onely God”, in Philip Sidney, Arthur Golding, transl., A Woorke Concerning the Trewnesse of the...
- O that this too too sallied fleſh vvould melt, / Thavv and reſolue it ſelfe into a devve, / Or that the euerlaſting had not fixt / His cannon gainſt ſeale ſlaughter, ô God, God,c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (Second Quarto), London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] L[ing] […], published 1604...
- Synonym of lasting (“(uncountable) a durable, plain, woven fabric formerly used for making clothes and for the uppers of women's shoes; (countable) a quantity of such fabric”).
- There is a young man, a third-rate coxcomb, whose first care is always to flourish a white handkerchief, and brush the seat of a tight pair of black silk pantaloons, which shine as if varnished. They must have been made of the stuff called ‘everlasting,’ or perhaps of the same piece as Christian’s...1837 March 6, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Sunday at Home”, in Twice-Told Tales, Boston, Mass.: American Stationers Co.; John B. Russell, →OCLC, page 33
- These everlastings, which were relatively new inventions, were finely woven, close set satins or broken twills with double or treble warps and single wefts, and were often figured or brocaded, those with bold flowers being known as Amens, signifying manufacture in the fashion of Amiens....1985, Eric Kerridge, “Jerseys”, in Textile Manufactures in Early Modern England, Manchester: Manchester University Press, →ISBN, page 64
- Synonyms:
- lasting
Also used as
everlasting is also the obsolete abbreviation of everlasting trimming.
everlasting meaning in Hindi, Bengali, Sanskrit and Vietnamese
everlasting in Hindi
- lasting or enduring forever — see also endless, eternal
- अक्षय akṣay
- chiefly of a deity or other supernatural being: having always existed and will continue to exist forever — see also eternal
- शाश्वत śāśvat, सनातन sanātan
everlasting in Bengali
- lasting or enduring forever — see also endless, eternal
- চিরন্তন cironton, চিরস্থায়ী cirosthaẏi, অনন্ত onnto, নিত্য nitto, সনাতন śonaton
- chiefly of a deity or other supernatural being: having always existed and will continue to exist forever — see also eternal
- অনন্ত ononto, সনাতন śonaton, দেশকালাতীত deśkalatit
everlasting in Sanskrit
- lasting or enduring forever — see also endless, eternal
- अक्षित akṣita
everlasting in Vietnamese
- lasting or enduring forever — see also endless, eternal
- vĩnh viễn
- chiefly of a deity or other supernatural being: having always existed and will continue to exist forever — see also eternal
- vĩnh cửu, đời đời
More languagesFewer languages
- Dzongkha
- མཐའ་མེད་པ mtha' med pa
Examples of everlasting in a sentence
- VVhy, in Heaven I ſhall have an everlaſting Holyday of Pleaſure.1649, Richard Baxter, “An Example of this Heavenly Contemplation, for the Help of the Unskilful”, in The Saints Everlasting Rest: Or, A...
- And vvhat a trifle is a moments Breath, / Laid in the Scale vvith everlaſting Death?1668, John Denham, “Of Prudence”, in Poems and Translations, with The Sophy, London: […] [John Macock] for H[enry] Herringman […], →OCLC...
- I muſt venture: To go back is nothing but death, to go forvvard is fear of death, and life everlaſting beyond it.1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page...
- Philoſophers, vvho darken and put out / Eternal truth by everlaſting doubt, […]1782, William Cowper, “The Progress of Error”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 65:
Synonyms of everlasting
5 more synonymsFewer synonyms
Antonyms
Forms of everlasting
| Adjective | |
|---|---|
| comparative | more everlasting |
| superlative | most everlasting |
| alternative form | ever-lasting |
| Adverb | |
| comparative | more everlasting |
| superlative | most everlasting |
| Noun | |
| plural | everlastings |
Origin of everlasting
From Middle English ever-lasting (“(adjective) eternal, perpetual; constant; (adverb) eternally; (noun) eternity”), from ever (“at all times, always, constantly; eternally, perpetually; regularly; etc.”) + lasting (“continuing, lasting; eternal; etc.”). * Ever is derived from Old English ǣfre (“ever”), possibly from ā (“always, ever”) + in fēore (“in life”). Ā is from Proto-West Germanic *aiw (“eternity; long time”), from Proto-Germanic *aiwaz (“long time; eternity”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- (“life, vital force; long time; eternity”); and fēore is the dative singular of feorh (“life”), from Proto-West Germanic *ferh (“life; kind of tree”), from Proto-Germanic *ferhwą (“body; life; tree”), probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *perkʷ- (“oak tree”) (as the oak represented life and vitality in Germanic mythology). * Lasting is derived from lasten (“to continue, last; etc.”) + -ing (suffix forming present participle forms of verbs, often used as adjectives)); and lasten from Old English lǣstan (“to follow, pursue; to carry out, perform”), from Proto-West Germanic *laistijan (“to follow, pursue; to carry out, perform”), from Proto-Germanic *laistijaną (“to...
Words formed from everlasting
- co-everlasting
- everlasting life
- everlastingly
- everlastingness
- everlasting pool
- everlasting staircase
- everlasting syllabub
- everlasting trimming
- foreeverlasting
Phrases with everlasting
Words that rhyme with everlasting
Questions about everlasting
- What does everlasting mean?
- Everlasting means lasting or enduring forever; endless, eternal.
- What is everlasting in Hindi?
- Everlasting in Hindi is अक्षय (akṣay), शाश्वत (śāśvat), सनातन (sanātan). See Everlasting meaning in Hindi.
- How do you use everlasting in a sentence?
- VVhy, in Heaven I ſhall have an everlaſting Holyday of Pleaſure.
- What part of speech is everlasting?
- Everlasting can be an adjective, an adverb or a noun.
- How do you pronounce everlasting?
- Everlasting is pronounced /ˌɛvəˈlɑːstɪŋ/ (UK).
Words near everlasting in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: everlasting (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this entry: “everlasting.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/everlasting. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.