insist

American  

[in-sist] / ɪnˈsɪst /

verb (used without object)

• insists,
  present (3rd person singular)
• insisted,
  past participle,  past
• insisting
  present participle

1. to be emphatic, firm, or resolute on some matter of desire, demand, intention, etc..

   He insists on checking every shipment.

2. to lay emphasis in assertion.

   to insist on the justice of a claim.

3. to dwell with earnestness or emphasis (usually followed by on orupon ).

   to insist on a point in a discussion.

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verb (used with object)

• insists,
  present (3rd person singular)
• insisted,
  past participle,  past
• insisting
  present participle

1. to assert or maintain firmly.

   He insists that he saw the ghosts.

2. to demand or persist in demanding.

   I insist that you see this thing through.

   Synonyms:

   require, urge

insist British  

/ ɪnˈsɪst /

verb

1. to make a determined demand (for)

   he insisted that his rights be respected

   he insisted on his rights

2. to express a convinced belief (in) or assertion (of)

   he insisted that she was mad

   he insisted on her madness

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• insister
  noun
• overinsist
  verb (used without object)
• reinsist
  verb (used without object)
• superinsist
  verb (used without object)
• insistingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• insisting
  present
• insisted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• insist
  simple
• insists
  simple
• have insisted
  perfect
• has insisted
  perfect
• am insisting
  progressive
• are insisting
  progressive
• is insisting
  progressive
• have been insisting
  perfect progressive
• has been insisting
  perfect progressive

Past

• insisted
  simple
• had insisted
  perfect
• was insisting
  progressive
• were insisting
  progressive
• had been insisting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will insist
  simple
• will have insisted
  perfect
• will be insisting
  progressive
• will have been insisting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of insist

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin insistere “to stand still on, persist in,” from in- in- ² + sistere “to cause to stand, stop” ( see also stand)

Explanation

To insist on something is to demand or swear to it. You can insist that you didn't eat the last piece of cake, and then insist that your brother show your mom the bits of frosting on his fingers. The verb insist comes from the Latin insistere, meaning “persist,” “dwell upon,” or “stand on.” To insist on something, like a room with a view, is to say that you must have it. To insist that you never met that man before in your life — even though there's a picture of the two of you together — is to claim that you're telling the truth. To insist on tapping your foot on the chair leg is annoying.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

insist insists insisted insisting

That’s the service you’re paying for, and that’s what you should insist on getting.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026

In its advisory to its citizens, China says those who insist on travelling to or staying in the country will face "extremely high security risks, and the timeliness of assistance may be affected".

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Even Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, a staunch europhile, has made it clear that in any future negotiations Reykjavik would insist on retaining "sovereign control over all fisheries".

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Tugboat’s seemingly unimpressive heater might not light up the radar gun, but batters insist it feels much faster than it actually is.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

The girls expected Mr. Drippy to glare at Kendra and insist that Chock Full of Chocolate was his recipe now.

From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene

The Serb great, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, insists he has not put an "expiry date" on his extraordinary career.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

But he insists this isn't an option for him.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

It's just a matter of time before someone gets these things to work, he insists.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Phil at Walt Disney Concert Hall and insists he’ll remain a summer fixture at his beloved Bowl.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Tsukiko insists she does not mind the rain but Isobel shelters her anyway, grateful for the company.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

The Villena council spokesman insisted there had been "no failure" by the museum.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Olympic officials have insisted that will not happen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

In general, her listeners insisted that they’re just asking questions.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

Parton repeatedly insisted that her songs said all she had to say.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Despite the sensational title, Dewey insisted he wasn’t “pro or con, in regard to the sounds being made by disembodied spirits.”

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

“But she kept insisting that I had to do it her way or I was not going to get better.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Prime Minister Andy Burnham "dodges" questions over the costs, the paper says, insisting that it is a "private matter".

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Davis has since backtracked, insisting the claims were bluster and were created by a ghostwriter to sell books.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

The defendant was arrested at the hospital and provided a pre-prepared statement accepting that he let himself into the house but denying the offences insisting everything was consensual.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Palmer, acting put out with his parents, kept insisting he was not allowed to have visitors upstairs.

From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• assert
• contend
• demand
• hold
• maintain
• press
• reiterate
• repeat
• request
• stand firm
• urge
• vow