insist
Americanverb (used without object)
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to be emphatic, firm, or resolute on some matter of desire, demand, intention, etc..
He insists on checking every shipment.
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to lay emphasis in assertion.
to insist on the justice of a claim.
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to dwell with earnestness or emphasis (usually followed by on orupon ).
to insist on a point in a discussion.
verb
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to make a determined demand (for)
he insisted that his rights be respected
he insisted on his rights
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to express a convinced belief (in) or assertion (of)
he insisted that she was mad
he insisted on her madness
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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insistsimple
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insistssimple
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have insistedperfect
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has insistedperfect
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am insistingprogressive
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are insistingprogressive
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is insistingprogressive
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have been insistingperfect progressive
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has been insistingperfect progressive
Past
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insistedsimple
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had insistedperfect
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was insistingprogressive
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were insistingprogressive
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had been insistingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing insist
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling
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List 11
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So, she called on the younger generation to help share her vision of “We Insist 2025!”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2025
"Insist on the putter being the shortest club in the bag," he told the Chipping Forecast podcast.
From BBC • May 27, 2025
Insist on an election and commit unfair labor practices, but then be ordered to recognize and bargain with the union based on its original majority.
From Slate • Oct. 2, 2023
Insist gently that he form his own response.
From Washington Post • Feb. 22, 2023
Insist on a special number for the bride and groom.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
