Word · Frequency #14265
interminable
冗长的；无休止的
interminable
- 1.
Existing or occurring without interruption or end; ceaseless, unending.
无休止的；无尽的
无休止的；无尽的；无限的；冗长的
In use
The meeting was interminable, and I kept checking my watch.
After two interminable hours in traffic, we finally reached the airport.
Her speech felt interminable, even though it lasted only ten minutes.
sth seems interminable
The meeting seemed interminable.
会议似乎无休无止。
an interminable period of time
They waited for an interminable period of time.
他们等待了漫长的时间。
Common mistakes
The meeting interminables.The meeting is interminable.
“interminable”是形容词，不能用作动词。中文学习者可能受汉语动词无形态变化的影响，误加了动词词尾。正确用法是作表语形容词。
This task is interminable, so we can finish it by tomorrow.This task is terminable, so we can finish it by tomorrow.
“interminable”意为“无休止的”，与“terminable”（可终止的）意思相反。学习者因前缀“inter-”而误以为是“terminable”的加强形式，实际含义相反。
Connections
Collocations
- interminable wait
- 没完没了的等待
- The flight was delayed, leaving us with an interminable wait at the airport.航班延误了，我们在机场没完没了地等着。
- interminable meeting
- 冗长的会议
- The interminable meeting finally came to an end at six o'clock.那场冗长的会议终于在六点结束了。
- interminable delay
- 没完没了的延误
- Passengers complained about the interminable delay.乘客们抱怨这场没完没了的延误。
- interminable list
- 冗长的清单
- She read out an interminable list of complaints.她念了一大串没完没了的抱怨。
- interminable argument
- 没完没了的争吵
- They had an interminable argument about money.他们为了钱没完没了地争吵。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想 terminal（终点）：到不了终点 = interminable，即没完没了、冗长难熬。
Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：formal writing、literary description、official speech interminable 通常用于正式或书面语，多指冗长且似乎没有尽头的事物；日常口语中更常说 endless 或 never-ending。
Pronunciation & Spelling
真正同韵的是 terminable 和 determinable，它们的重读元音 /ɜː/ 及后面的 /mɪnəbəl/ 与 interminable 一致。terminal、terminate、inimitable 是拼写上的近似词，但读音不同：terminal 以 /nəl/ 结尾，terminate 以 /neɪt/ 结尾，inimitable 的重读元音是 /ɪ/。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.