Meaning & use
infinitely
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Meanings
adverb
To an extremely great degree, far more than any other; used to stress how big a difference or quality is.
Grammar: Usually comes before a comparative adjective or 'more': infinitely better, infinitely more useful.
Patterns
- infinitely better
- infinitely more + adjective
- infinitely preferable to something
- infinitely small
This new version of the app is infinitely better than the old one.
For a teacher, patience is infinitely more valuable than a loud voice.
The two designs look similar, but the second is infinitely preferable to work with.
adverbformal
Without any limit or end; forever, in a way that never stops.
Grammar: Used with verbs and adjectives about endless space, time, or amount: infinitely large, extend infinitely.
Patterns
- extend infinitely
- infinitely large
- infinitely many
In theory, the number line goes on infinitely in both directions.
The desert seemed to stretch out infinitely in front of us.
Mathematicians ask whether the universe is infinitely old.
Common combinations
- infinitely better
- The food at the little cafe is infinitely better than at the hotel.
- infinitely more
- She is infinitely more confident than she was a year ago.
- infinitely preferable
- Walking to work is infinitely preferable to sitting in traffic.
- infinitely small
- The cracks were infinitely small, invisible to the naked eye.
- stretch infinitely
- The salt flats seemed to stretch infinitely toward the horizon.
Synonyms and how they differ
- endlessly
- Focuses on something continuing without stopping in time, rather than on how great a degree something has.
- immeasurably
- Means 'too much to measure' and is close in meaning, but sounds more formal and is used mostly about amounts of change or difference.
- vastly
- Means 'very greatly' and fits comparisons, but it does not suggest anything endless, so it is weaker than 'infinitely'.
Opposites
Word family
- infinite adjective
- Without limits in size, amount, or time.
- infinity noun
- The state of having no end, or a number larger than any other.
- infinitesimal adjective
- Extremely tiny, almost zero.
Commonly confused: infinitely or definitely? infinitely or infinity?
infinitely vs definitely
Sounds similar but means 'certainly, without doubt' (I'll definitely come), not 'to an endless degree.'
infinitely vs infinity
This is the noun for the endless amount itself; 'infinitely' is the adverb that describes how something is or happens.
Practice
The new library is ______ more useful than the old one because it stays open late.
Choose one answer.
'Infinitely more useful' needs an adverb to modify the comparative 'more useful,' so 'infinitely' is correct. 'Infinite' is an adjective and would have to modify a noun, 'infinitive' is a grammar term, and 'infinity' is a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “infinitely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.