permanently

permanently — adverb

1. from that time on, without ending or going back to the earlier state

1.adverbB2
Definition

from that time on, without ending or going back to the earlier state

Example

The museum closed permanently after the fire damaged the roof.

collocation: permanently closed

One fall permanently injured Carlos's shoulder during the ski trip.

adverb before verb: permanently injured

Common collocations
  • permanently closed
  • permanently damaged
  • permanently removed
  • move somewhere permanently
  • leave permanently
Synonyms
  • forever

    is more common in conversation and often sounds more emotional

  • indefinitely

    means no end date is set, but the situation may still end later

  • for good

    is informal and often means someone leaves or stops something and does not return

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be permanently closed / damaged / removed

move somewhere permanently

leave permanently

Usage Note

Often used before past participles or adjectives, as in 'permanently closed' or 'permanently damaged'. With verbs such as move, leave, or settle, it commonly comes later in the clause.

Common Mistakes

The shop is permanently closed for two weeks.
The shop is temporarily closed for two weeks.
'permanently' cannot be used for a situation with a fixed short end point.
My parents moved permanently to Tainan for the summer.
My parents moved to Tainan for the summer.
'permanently' means there is no planned return.

Word family

  • permanent
    adjectiveB1
  • permanence
    nounC1
  • impermanent
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Permanently is the neutral choice when something lasts with no planned end or does not return to an earlier state. Forever is common in everyday speech and often sounds more emotional or dramatic, especially in personal promises. Indefinitely only means that no end date has been set, so the situation might still change later. For good is informal and often describes leaving, stopping, or removing something so it does not come back. Irreversibly is stronger and more technical, stressing that the change cannot be undone at all. In notices, laws, and formal writing, permanently is often the clearest word: 'The shop closed permanently.' Compare 'The game was postponed indefinitely' and 'The chemical permanently damaged the metal surface.'

permanently ↗forever ↗indefinitelyfor good ↗irreversibly

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Permanently was formed in English by adding -ly to permanent. Permanent came through French from Latin permanere, meaning to remain through something or continue to the end. The adverb kept that idea of a state that does not stop or go back.