infinitive

1 of 2

noun

in·fin·i·tive in-�?fi-nə-tiv

: a verb form normally identical in English with the first person singular that performs some functions of a noun and at the same time displays some characteristics of a verb and that is used with to (as in "I asked him to go") except with auxiliary and various other verbs (as in "no one saw him leave")

infinitive

2 of 2

adjective

: formed with the infinitive

an infinitive phrase

infinitively adverb

Examples of infinitive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Advertisement When infinitives are cleft, some folks, regardless of actual profession, become exercised. —

Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024 James Tiberius Kirk used to boldly go where no one has gone before — and never apologized for splitting the infinitive. —

Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, 23 Apr. 2022 To love, synonymous with to be, a defective verb that only knows the present infinitive. —

Claudio Magris, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2024 Shakespeare split just one infinitive, the King James Bible none. —

The Economist, 26 Apr. 2018

Adjective

The infinitive originally appeared in Hellenistic Greek (spoken from approximately 4th century B.C.E. to 6th century C.E.), but became obsolete in Medieval times as all Greek varieties except for Romeyka ditched it. —

Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French infinitif, borrowed from Medieval Latin infīnītīvus, noun derivative of Late Latin infīnītīvus infinitive entry 2

Adjective

Middle English infinityf, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French infinitif, borrowed from Late Latin infīnītīvus, from Latin infīnītus "not specified, indefinite, of a verbal form that does not specify person or number" + -īvus -ive — more at infinite entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of infinitive was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century