What does infinite mean?
Word: Infinite
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Infinite means without limits or without end; too great to be measured.
Synonyms: endless, limitless, boundless, unlimited
Antonyms: finite
How do you spell infinite?
Syllables: in - fi - nite
Tricky part: The last part is spelt -ite with a final e, though it is said short, so students write infinate or infinit.
Watch out for: infinate, infinit, infinet
Memory tip: Finite ends like night and infinite ends like it, yet both are spelt -ite with a final e: infinite never ends in -ate.
Infinite in a sentence
Example 1: From the deck of the ferry, the ocean looked infinite.
Example 2: Mathematicians say there are infinitely many points on even a short line.
Example 3: Looking up at the night sky in Ladakh, the stars seemed infinite.
Fun Fact
The sign for infinity, a figure eight lying on its side, was introduced by the English mathematician John Wallis in 1655.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
infinnite
a) t
b) f
c) n
d) i
Show answer
c) n. Finite has one n, and adding in- does not change it.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word infinite as used in the sentence:
The universe may not be infinite, but it is far bigger than anyone can picture.
a) countless
b) limited
c) mysterious
d) huge
Show answer
b) limited. Something limited has an end, the very opposite of infinite; countless and huge point the same way.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is not. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. galexy 2. eternity 3. infinite 4. horizon
a) a huge group of stars, such as the Milky Way
b) the line where earth and sky seem to meet
c) time that goes on without end
d) having no end or limit
Show answer
a) a huge group of stars, such as the Milky Way. Galexy has an e where an a belongs; eternity, horizon and infinite are spelt correctly.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
To a small child, the summer holidays can seem nefiitni, though they always end too soon.
a) definite
b) infinitive
c) infinite
d) infinity
Show answer
c) infinite. Infinity is a noun with a y, definite needs a d, and infinitive is two letters too long.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Mathematicians would call which of these infinite?
a) the pages of a book
b) the days in a week
c) the players in a team
d) the list of counting numbers
Show answer
d) the list of counting numbers
2. A person with infinite patience ____.
a) gets angry very quickly
b) is always in a great hurry
c) never seems to lose their temper
d) cannot stand waiting in queues
Show answer
c) never seems to lose their temper
