Perpetually

/pərˈpɛtʃuəli/

adverbmedium📊CommonGeneral
1 meaning2 questions

Definitions

1

In a way that continues forever or for a very long time; constantly; incessantly.

/pərˈpɛtʃuəli/

adverbneutralmedium
General

In a way that never ends or changes

The sun perpetually shines in this region.

💡 Simply: Imagine a friend who *always* forgets to bring their wallet. They *perpetually* need to borrow money, which means it happens again and again, forever (or at least it feels that way!).

👶 For kids: It means something happens *always* and *forever*.

More Examples

2

He was perpetually late to class.

3

The internet is perpetually connected in the modern world.

How It's Used

General

"The company is perpetually in debt."

Literature

"The protagonist felt perpetually lost, wandering the maze of life."

Synonyms & Antonyms

From Middle English *perpetuelly*, from Old French *perpétuel* (“perpetual”) + -ly. Ultimately from Latin *perpetuus* (“continuous, uninterrupted”).

Used in the 16th century in reference to things that continue without stopping. Often associated with legal or religious concepts of enduring time.

Memory tip

Imagine a pet-turtle (per-pet-tual) that lives forever - always moving, always there.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to continue, uninterrupted"

perpetually in debtperpetually changingperpetually busy

Common misspellings

perpetuallyyperpetualyperpetuly

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written