A matter of semantics.

can you even measure it ?

and what would be the reason to know the answer to it ?

When I think of the words "forever" and "infinity" in relation to time, the term "forever" strikes me as a term for describing linear time whereas "infinity" describes a kind of "circular time" in which there really is no start nor end. In that context, it seems to me that forever would be a longer period of time.

Infinity is longer than forever- 8 letters vs 7........

QUESTION

Is 'forever' or 'infinity'
(or words in that vicinity
like 'always' and 'eternity'
longer, with more certainty,
than other words semantically
(and not a bit pedantically!)
the same? Or are, historically,
the words used metaphorically
and all but interchangeably
(if sometimes re-arrangedly)?

ANSWER

To communicate, ostensibly,
some abstract meaning sensibly,
we should limit ambiguity,
not count on the acuity
of listeners whose diversity
might span from university
to those who labour manually
or those still growing annually.
If you can't state your point relatably
it's surely masturbatory.

Forever is like a version of infinity that has a starting point, for example "I want to live forever" vs "I am infinite". But the question "Which is longer?" cannot be answered because neither of them would end soon enough for them to be measured.

The only real answer here ^^

you just won the internet.

I'm not sure the manual laborers and annual growers to whom you refer would understand this little stanza either

I think forever is a manifestation of infinity, in a way. This though I don't think would qualify the one the right of judging the other to be superior or inferior. Also, in a sense, they do depend on each other to exist. If you didn't have infinity, then where would be no forever. But if you didn't have a forever, then infinity would have nothing to manifest.

Why does it matter??????? Some people on here seem like they might be a little TOO high.

If this philosophical/semantic musing doesn't appeal to you, then there's no need to take part in the thought/thread. And who's to judge what's "too high"?

If you think you are too high, you aren't high enough.

When you start to conceptualize words that have already solid definitions, you are probably too high. Or just bored. Just dont know why things like this get asked, seems pretty meaningless. that is my take on the subject. I might have been a bit rude, but I was trying to be somewhat humorous, sarcastic, but down right serious. Why does this really matter????

I think that is as logical or more logical of a question then the question itself.....

forever [fɔːˈrɛvə fə-]
adv
1. Also for ever without end; everlastingly; eternally
2. at all times; incessantly
3. Informal for a very long time he went on speaking forever
n
1. (as object) Informal a very long time it took him forever to reply
…forever! an exclamation expressing support or loyalty Scotland forever!
Usage: Forever and for ever can both be used to say that something is without end. For all other meanings, forever is the preferred form

nfinity [ɪnˈfɪnɪtɪ]
n pl -ties
1. the state or quality of being infinite
2. endless time, space, or quantity
3. an infinitely or indefinitely great number or amount
4. (Physics / General Physics) Optics Photog a point that is far enough away from a lens, mirror, etc., for the light emitted by it to fall in parallel rays on the surface of the lens, etc.
5. (Physics / General Physics) Physics a dimension or quantity of sufficient size to be unaffected by finite variations
6. (Mathematics) Maths the concept of a value greater than any finite numerical value
7. (Mathematics) a distant ideal point at which two parallel lines are assumed to meet Symbol (for senses 4-7) ∞

So I guess it all comes down to like most language, is what context are the words being used.....

It seems that forever is defining a length of time that is long. Whereas infinity is time never ending. There you go folks, mystery solved. ha ha

I think infinity is longer because forever seems to tie in with a time based system. If time stops then so does forever but i think infinity can go on without time.

Well, I found the question on another site and agree that it doesn't make logical sense; if you stick to a dictionary definition, the question is boring. The point was not to get the dictionary definition; I thought it be a good prompt for some philosophical pomp or random raps or witty words, and it looks like it worked; consider dromedary:

Is 'forever' or 'infinity'
(or words in that vicinity
like 'always' and 'eternity'
longer, with more certainty,
than other words semantically
(and not a bit pedantically!)
the same? Or are, historically,
the words used metaphorically
and all but interchangeably
(if sometimes re-arrangedly)?

FTW

Forever and infinity are two sides of the same coin (if time is the coin). On one side of the coin time is running in a straight line endlessly in either direction, while on the other it is a closed track and time runs laps around the track going in both directions endlessly. If they are both moving at the same speed endlessly, the distance traveled would be the same

Semantically they are not equivalent. Forever is a measure of time, end of story, while infinity is a measure of anything (time, space, volume, number of angels on the head of a pin, etc).

So there are an infinite number of points comprising a circle. And it would take forever to count them.

On their own, they have different linguistic functions. But they can be used in a way that is equivalent:

Forever=an infinite amount of time

But in other contexts they are not the same.


Personally, I think semantic discussions are fun and healthy for the brain- our language is an odd bundle of mutated ideas that we should never take for granted.

Forever is like for infinity or something like that

I'd like to add a word that, I believe, is longer than both forever and infinite.

Never.

NEVER.

think about it, NEVER is a long time. Why is NEVER longer? Because people understand NEVER much better than infinite.

Forever? Most realize that forever isnt ....... forever.

Never on the other hand is real clear.

NEVER