been forever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been forever" is a correct and usable form of written English.
It is usually used to express that something has been occurring for a very long time and has no end in sight. For example, "It feels like I've been waiting for the bus forever."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's been forever.

The New Yorker

That had been forever ago.

The New Yorker

The series has been forever stained by the officiating controversy.

The New York Times - Sports

It has since been forever known as "hospital feeling".

Independent

Our lives have been forever enriched by her presence.

The New York Times

The fabric of the community has been forever altered.

The New York Times

That's been worldwide, and it's been forever and ever, you know.

Princeton University

Have you considered the Weekly Kos? Dear Angela Rosenstein, It's been forever!

The New Yorker

Legal battles are being waged, and residents' lives have been forever changed.

The New York Times

There were just five issues because after five the title had been forever cancelled.

The New Yorker

Where would we be, after all, if "Lolita" had been forever banned?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "been forever" to express subjective feelings of time passing, especially when emphasizing the duration feels longer than it actually is. For example, "It's been forever since we last spoke, let's catch up soon."

Common error

While "been forever" is widely understood, it might be too informal for academic papers or business reports. Opt for phrases like "a significant amount of time has passed" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

"Been forever" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a prolonged duration. Ludwig's examples show it often emphasizes the speaker's subjective perception of time, such as in the sentence "It feels like it's been forever."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "been forever" serves as an adverbial phrase to convey a subjective feeling that a considerable amount of time has elapsed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in news and media. While widely understood, its informal nature may not suit formal or professional contexts, where alternatives such as "a significant amount of time has passed" would be more appropriate. Ludwig provides various examples demonstrating its usage across diverse sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for what feels like forever

Similar to the original phrase but emphasizes the speaker's subjective perception.

has been a long time

A more straightforward way of stating that a significant period has passed.

seemed like ages

Highlights the subjective experience of time stretching out.

lasted an eternity

Emphasizes the feeling of a very long time passing.

in an age

Suggests a notably long absence.

it feels like a lifetime

Exaggerates the perceived length of the time period.

for a considerable duration

Focuses on the length of time, suggesting it is noteworthy.

since time immemorial

Implies something has existed or been happening for an extremely long, possibly indefinite, time.

a significant amount of time has passed

Formal restatement, emphasizing the importance of the duration.

for many years

Simply states that the duration is long and measurable in years.

FAQs

How can I use "been forever" in a sentence?

You can use "been forever" to express that something feels like it has taken a very long time. For example, "It's "been forever" since I've seen my family."

What's a more formal way to say "been forever"?

If you need a more formal alternative, consider using "a considerable amount of time has passed" or "it has "been a long time"" depending on the context.

Is "been forever" grammatically correct?

Yes, "been forever" is grammatically correct in informal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

When is it appropriate to use "been forever"?

"Been forever" is suitable for casual conversations, personal writing, or informal communications. However, avoid it in formal or professional settings that require precise language.