it took forever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'it took forever' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something took a very long time to do. For example, "I was trying to open the jar but it took forever!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

That is, when you plugged the iPhone into iTunes it took forever for it to complete its syncing process.

TechCrunch

"It took forever.

The New York Times

They ate quickly, but it took forever.

The New Yorker

"It took forever," I told Bob.

The New York Times

"It just seemed like it took forever".

The New York Times - Sports

It looks like it took forever.

The Guardian - Books

"So it took forever, and I just lived in it".

The New York Times

As you can imagine, it took forever to work out".

The New York Times - Sports

It took forever to get the news too.

The New York Times

It took forever and then it took a night.

The New York Times

"It took forever for those things to happen.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it took forever" to emphasize the length of time something required, especially when expressing frustration or impatience. For example: "I was trying to assemble the furniture, but "it took forever"!"

Common error

While "it took forever" is a common idiom, avoid overusing it in formal writing. In professional or academic contexts, opt for more precise language to describe the duration of the event, such as "the process required several hours" or "the task spanned multiple days".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it took forever" functions as an idiomatic expression used to emphasize that a task or event required a considerably long duration. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in everyday conversations to describe time-consuming activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it took forever" is a common idiomatic expression used to convey that something required a significant amount of time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts, primarily in informal settings. While it's widely used in news and media, it's advisable to use more precise language in formal writing. Alternatives like "it took ages" or "it took a long time" can be used depending on the specific nuance you aim to express. Remember to avoid overusing this phrase and consider more precise alternatives for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it took ages

Similar meaning, substituting "forever" with "ages" to imply a long duration.

it took a long time

A more literal and less emphatic way of saying something took a considerable duration.

it took a while

Implies a noticeable but not necessarily excessive amount of time.

it went on and on

Focuses on the continuous nature of the activity, emphasizing its prolonged duration.

it seemed endless

Highlights the subjective feeling of the duration, suggesting it felt longer than it was.

it dragged on

Suggests the process was slow and possibly tedious.

it never ended

Emphasizes the lack of a perceived conclusion to the activity.

it was interminable

A more formal way of saying something seemed to last an extremely long time.

it stretched out

Focuses on the extension of the activity over a period of time.

it was a drawn-out process

Highlights the extended nature of a task or procedure.

FAQs

How can I use "it took forever" in a sentence?

You can use "it took forever" to express that something required a very long time. For example: "We waited in line, and "it took forever" to get tickets."

What are some alternatives to saying "it took forever"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it took ages", "it took a long time", or "it seemed endless", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it took forever" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "it took forever" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more precise language to describe duration.

What does "it took forever" imply?

"It took forever" implies that something required a significant and perhaps frustratingly long amount of time, often longer than expected or desired.