continuous

American  

[kuhn-tin-yoo-uhs] / kənˈtɪn ju əs /

adjective

1. uninterrupted in time; without cessation.

   continuous coughing during the concert.

2. being in immediate connection or spatial relationship.

   a continuous series of blasts; a continuous row of warehouses.

3. Grammar. progressive.

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continuous British  

/ kənˈtɪnjʊəs /

adjective

1. prolonged without interruption; unceasing

   a continuous noise

2. in an unbroken series or pattern

3. maths (of a function or curve) changing gradually in value as the variable changes in value. A function f is continuous if at every value a of the independent variable the difference between f( x ) and f( a ) approaches zero as x approaches a Compare discontinuous See also limit

4. statistics (of a variable) having a continuum of possible values so that its distribution requires integration rather than summation to determine its cumulative probability Compare discrete

5. grammar another word for progressive

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continuous Scientific  

/ kən-tĭn′yo̅o̅-əs /

1. Relating to a line or curve that extends without a break or irregularity.

2. A function in which changes, however small, to any x- value result in small changes to the corresponding y- value, without sudden jumps. Technically, a function is continuous at the point c if it meets the following condition: for any positive number ε, however small, there exists a positive number δ such that for all x within the distance δ from c, the value of f (x) will be within the distance ε from f (c). Polynomials, exponential functions, and trigonometric functions are examples of continuous functions.

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Usage

Both continual and continuous can be used to say that something continues without interruption, but only continual can correctly be used to say that something keeps happening repeatedly

Commonly Confused

See continual.

Other Word Forms

• continuousness
  noun
• noncontinuousness
  noun
• noncontinuous
  adjective
• quasi-continuous
  adjective
• semicontinuous
  adjective
• uncontinuous
  adjective
• continuously
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of continuous

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin continuus “uninterrupted,” equivalent to contin(ēre) “to hold together, retain” ( con- con- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”; cf. contain) + -uus adjective suffix; cf. -ous, contiguous

Compare meaning

How does continuous compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• continuous vs. discontinuous
• contiguous vs. continuous
• continuous vs. line spectrum

Explanation

The adjective continuous describes something that occurs over space or time without interruption. Some computer fans make a continuous noise — a constant buzz — that can drive you to distraction. Continuous things don’t stop, not even for a coffee break. A continuous sheet of ice has no cracks, a continuous noise never pauses, and a continuous line of railroad is the kind you want if you’re on a train. Continual, on the other hand, is used to describe things that start and stop occasionally. Use continuous for anything that goes on and on.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

continuous

“It is a continuous learning experience. In fact, anyone who takes this job and doesn’t view this as a daily learning experience cannot possibly do the job well,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

If decision making emerges from continuous interactions among the brain, body, and environment, studying it will require experimental methods capable of capturing that complexity.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

"The blackout caused some irreparable losses, particularly at the plants operating on a continuous production basis, where sudden power interruptions have a direct impact on production processes," Encarnação recalls.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Between 2016 and 2021, Evergrande and Xu as its boss "violated national laws by engaging in continuous, large-scale financial fraud and other means to inflate assets and conceal liabilities", the court said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

I walk down the hall and pop into my room, where Muqtada is putting his distinctive shape in the bed, turned toward the window, in his continuous dead reverie.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini

Related Words

• continued
• endless
• extended
• regular
• repeated
• stable
• steady
• unbroken
• unceasing
• uninterrupted