Eternal

easyNeutral tone

ih-TUR-nul

adjective

Definition

Lasting or existing forever; without end

Memory hook

E-TERNAL: lasting for all TIME — without beginning or end, forever.

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Word roots

aeternuseverlasting(Latin)

Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.

Examples

They pledged their eternal love to each other.
The quest for eternal youth has fascinated humans for millennia.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

They pledged their ______ love to each other.
Show answer

eternal

Synonyms

everlastingperpetualimmortalperennial

Antonyms

Categories

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GRE Tip

Eternal is a easy-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "everlasting" or "perpetual" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "ephemeral".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

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