indefinitely

Examples

• All

• They can't keep the plane in the air indefinitely.

  Air Force One (1997)

• Well, his point was if we get to a place where you can sustain human life indefinitely, people are going to become very, very different.

• All right, so now I can just go on indefinitely and without a great deal of effort.

• I will be in treatment indefinitely for however long or short that might be.

  Rich Roll

• I want to prove that people could live off the land here indefinitely if they had to.

  Fiction book (2002)

• We cannot remain in this place indefinitely, and simply leaving is not a possibility.

  Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012)

• Nuclear reactors could provide power almost indefinitely.

  Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

• Press officials say because of the tragedy, the Apollo 1 flight has now been postponed indefinitely.

  Fly Me to the Moon (2024)

• The meeting was postponed indefinitely, leaving everyone uncertain about a new date.

• Due to the storm damage, the event has been canceled indefinitely until further notice.

Synonyms

E

endlessly

vsindefinitely

73 2.3

Without stopping for a very long time

may refer simply to an unspecified long time rather than literal endlessness

E

eternally

vsindefinitely

53 5.2

For all time without end

can focus on unspecified time length rather than guaranteed endlessness

P

perpetually

vsindefinitely

29 4.8

Happening all the time without stopping

can mean an unspecified long span rather than constant, repeated action

I

in perpetuity

vsindefinitely

• Formal

16 7.8

A time that lasts forever

is used more generally rather than as a fixed formal phrase

F

forevermore

vsindefinitely

• Archaic

8 6.8

Always from now on

is neutral about start point and duration, not only future starting now

A

ad infinitum

vsindefinitely

• Formal

7 8.8

Going on forever without any limit

covers unspecified duration too rather than only literal endless repetition

F

for the long run

vsindefinitely

4 3.3

Over a long time into the future

focuses on planning or outcomes rather than merely unspecified continuous duration

E

evermore

vsindefinitely

• Archaic

3 8.9

Continues for all future time

is a neutral adverb usable in ordinary speech rather than poetic

U

until the cows come home

vsindefinitely

• Informal

3 8.5

For a very long time that seems to never end

is neutral and non-idiomatic rather than colloquial or playful in speech

I

interminably

vsindefinitely

2 7.6

In a way that goes on for a very long time with no end in sight

may simply mark unknown duration rather than emphasizing the tedious endless feeling

U

until hell freezes over

vsindefinitely

• Informal

1 9.5

For a very long time, often to say something will never happen

can indicate unspecified long duration rather than impossible or never occurring events

E

everlastingly

vsindefinitely

1 7.4

In a way that lasts forever

may allow unspecified end rather than absolute permanent continuity

U

unendingly

vsindefinitely

1 5.8

Without stopping for a long time

can be used for an unspecified period rather than strict eternal continuity

I

indeterminately

vsindefinitely

7.2

For an unknown length of time

includes actual unlimited duration as well as merely undefined periods

F

forever and a day

vsindefinitely

• Archaic

5.6

For a very long time with no clear end

is neutral and literal about indefinite time rather than decorative exaggeration

U

unto the ages of ages

vsindefinitely

• Archaic

9.9

For a very long time that never ends

is used in everyday neutral contexts, not ceremonial or religious language

U

until kingdom come

vsindefinitely

• Informal

8.6

For a very long time, possibly forever

is a neutral time description rather than a casual idiomatic expression

How Long

permanently

218 2.9

indefinitely

104 4.8

temporarily

222 3.2

for a while

∞ 1.0

briefly

414 1.0

momentarily

47 3.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology