constant

¹

[ kon-stuhnt ]

adjective

1. not changing or varying; uniform; regular; invariable:

   All conditions during the three experiments were constant.

   Synonyms: permanent, immutable

   Antonyms: changeable

2. continuing without pause or letup; unceasing:

   constant noise.

   Synonyms: unremitting, perpetual

   Antonyms: fitful

3. regularly recurrent; continual; persistent:

   He found it impossible to work with constant interruption.

   Synonyms: ceaseless, incessant

   Antonyms: sporadic

4. faithful; unswerving in love, devotion, etc.:

   a constant lover.

   Synonyms: true, staunch, loyal

   Antonyms: unreliable

5. steadfast; firm in mind or purpose; resolute.

   Synonyms: steady

6. Obsolete. certain; confident.

noun

1. something that does not or cannot change or vary.
2. Physics. a number expressing a property, quantity, or relation that remains unchanged under specified conditions.
3. Mathematics. a quantity assumed to be unchanged throughout a given discussion.

Constant

²

[ kawn-stahn ]

noun

1. Paul Hen·ri Ben·ja·min Bal·luat [pawl ah, n, -, ree, ba, n, -zh, a, -, man, b, a, -, lwa]. Paul d'Estournelles de Constant.
2. Jean Jo·seph Ben·ja·min [zhah, n, zhaw-, zef, ba, n, -zh, a, -, man], 1845–1902, French painter.

Constant

¹

/ kɔ̃stɑ̃ /

noun

1. ConstantBenjamin17671830MFrenchWRITING: writerPOLITICS: politician Benjamin (bɛ̃ʒamɛ̃). real name Henri Benjamin Constant de Rebecque. 1767–1830, French writer and politician: author of the psychological novel Adolphe (1816)

constant

²

/ ˈkɒnstənt /

adjective

1. fixed and invariable; unchanging
2. continual or continuous; incessant

   constant interruptions

3. resolute in mind, purpose, or affection; loyal

noun

1. something that is permanent or unchanging
2. a specific quantity that is always invariable

   the velocity of light is a constant

3. 1. maths a symbol representing an unspecified number that remains invariable throughout a particular series of operations
   2. physics a theoretical or experimental quantity or property that is considered invariable throughout a particular series of calculations or experiments
4. See logical constant
   See logical constant

constant

/ kŏn′stənt /

1. A quantity that is unknown but assumed to have a fixed value in a specified mathematical context.
2. A theoretical or experimental quantity, condition, or factor that does not vary in specified circumstances. Avogadro's number and Planck's constant are examples of constants.

constant

1. A number that appears in equations and formulas and does not vary or change. Examples are Planck's constant and the speed of light .

Derived Forms

• ˈconstantly, adverb

Other Words From

• con·stant·ly adverb
• non·con·stant noun adjective
• o·ver·con·stant adjective
• o·ver·con·stant·ness noun
• qua·si-con·stant adjective
• un·con·stant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of constant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin constant- (stem of constāns, present participle of constāre “to stand firm”), equivalent to con- con- + stā- stand + -nt- present participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of constant¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin constāns standing firm, from constāre to be steadfast, from stāre to stand

Synonym Study

See faithful.

Example Sentences

For many growers, large and small, this consists of constant data entry from seed to sale.

From TechCrunch

Wetland sediment also erodes from the constant wash of waves.

From Science News For Students

It’s a constant competition and struggle between state and society.

From Freakonomics

For bacteria are engaged in constant exchange with one another.

From Nautilus

The actual amount spent on military equipment since he became president is much less, about $444 billion in constant dollars, or about 20 percent of the total.

From Washington Post

He not only gives out pain — he is in constant, unrelenting pain.

From The Daily Beast

It was like a constant assault, an almost stupefying catalogue of mindless racial insult and injury.

From The Daily Beast

The courage of this husband and father is a constant reminder of how much some sacrifice for exercising universal rights.

From The Daily Beast

His constant worship of his wife stands in stark contrast to scandals of the domestic nature in other sports.

From The Daily Beast

You have a pretty sexy online persona, what with the constant bikinis.

From The Daily Beast

A constant sense of easy balance should be developed through poising exercises.

From Project Gutenberg

This new nexus of print has grown up in the lifetime of four or five generations, and it is undergoing constant changes.

From Project Gutenberg

His repeated coughing seemed a constant warning that at any moment he might be vanquished in the struggle for becoming silence.

From Project Gutenberg

Here they are seldom abundant, but their constant presence is the most reliable urinary sign of the disease.

From Project Gutenberg

Labor, so it was argued, was perpetually being saved by the constant introduction of new uses of machinery.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ceaseless
• chronic
• continual
• continuous
• endless
• eternal
• incessant
• nonstop
• perpetual
• persistent
• relentless
• sustained
• unending
• uninterrupted
• unrelenting
• unremitting