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interminably

interminably

2 7.6
In a way that goes on for a very long time with no end in sight
  • adverb
  • /ɪnˈtɜrmɪnəbli/
translation icon : interminablemente
  • We waited interminably for the bus, feeling like it would never arrive.
  • interminably long
  • go on interminably
  • talk interminably

Everybody's got the fan and it just went on interminably.

Examples

  • Slowly, interminably, the music fades off into the distance.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • His voice droned interminably as if it belonged to someone else.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I also judge those who go on and on interminably.

    Blog text (9)
  • The two are in many ways interminably connected, a point almost every national journalist seems to miss.

    Blog text (31)
  • But this time, they seemed to stretch on interminably.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The subway ride seems to go on interminably.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • For once, she blessed the family habit of talking interminably about anything to anyone.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • You know, you think about the last year, interminably long and also unbelievably short at the same time.

  • The interrogations went on interminably.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • "The evening stretched before them interminably; the hazy, muted sunlight had barely moved across the floor.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

constantly
vsinterminably
740 1.0

Very often or all the time without stopping

means endless in appearance rather than merely frequent occurrence
indefinitely
vsinterminably
104 4.8

For a time with no set end

means seeming endless rather than simply unspecified duration
continuously
vsinterminably
95 2.3

Happens without stopping or pausing

is the same uninterrupted sense rather than suggesting intensity
endlessly
vsinterminably
73 2.3

Without stopping for a very long time

focuses on the same sense of seeming endless duration
eternally
vsinterminably
53 5.2

For all time without end

conveys the same endless idea but in simpler tone
relentlessly
vsinterminably
53 4.9

Continuing without stopping in a strong, determined way

focuses on endless duration without implying force or severity
nonstop
vsinterminably
42 1.3

Continuing without any stops or pauses

stresses ongoing action while key stresses feeling that it will never stop
perpetually
vsinterminably
29 4.8

Happening all the time without stopping

shares the ongoing idea but can imply repeated regularity
incessantly
vsinterminably
22 6.3

In a way that continues without stopping for a long time

is the same continuous idea, focusing on seeming endlessness
in perpetuity
vsinterminably
  • Formal
16 7.8

A time that lasts forever

carries the same endless notion but in neutral phrasing
forever
vsinterminably
12 1.4

A very long time with no end

expresses the same very long duration in everyday language
ad infinitum
vsinterminably
  • Formal
7 8.8

Going on forever without any limit

is similar but more neutral and less formal in tone
ceaselessly
vsinterminably
6 5.3

Without stopping

expresses the same uninterrupted, endless quality rather than intensity
unrelentingly
vsinterminably
3 7.5

Continuing very strongly and not becoming less

highlights endless appearance rather than continued severity
unceasingly
vsinterminably
2 6.6

In a way that does not stop

focuses more on endless duration than on pressure or force
unremittingly
vsinterminably
1 8.0

Continuing without stopping or getting weaker

is about endlessness in general rather than intensity of action
forever and a day
vsinterminably
  • Archaic
1 5.3

For a very long time with no clear end

is the neutral expression of seeming to have no end
unendingly
vsinterminably
1 5.8

Without stopping for a long time

shares the same sense of seeming never to finish
everlastingly
vsinterminably
1 7.4

In a way that lasts forever

is similar but slightly less formal and less absolute
unhaltingly
vsinterminably
7.0

To go on without stopping or pausing

is similar but stresses seeming endlessness rather than steadiness

Antonyms

414 1.0

For a short time or in a few words

222 3.2

For a short time and not permanent

How Long

interminably
2 7.6
a long time
1.0
temporarily
222 3.2
for a while
1.0
briefly
414 1.0
momentarily
47 3.7

Surface Forms

interminably positive
interminablyer comparative
interminablyest superlative

Morphology

interminably = interminable (semi-transparent) = in + termin + able + ly

The adverbial form is clearly derived from the adjective 'interminable'.

Etymology

Interminably comes from the parts in- 'not' and terminus 'end', so it means 'no end'. You can see the same root in terminate and terminal, which are about an end, and that is why interminably describes something that goes on 'endlessly'.