persevering

American  

[pur-suh-veer-ing] / ˌpɜr səˈvɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. displaying perseverance; resolutely persistent; steadfast.

   a persevering student.

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Usage

What does persevering mean? Persevering is used to describe people who persevere—continue to do or try to achieve something despite difficulty or discouragement. A close synonym is persistent. Persevering can also be used to describe the efforts of such people. The word is typically used in a positive way to describe people who don’t give up no matter what. A persevering person keeps trying despite major challenges and setbacks. Persevering is also the continuous tense (-ing form) of the verb persevere. People who are persevering are said to show perseverance, which is the quality of those who persevere, as in You showed great perseverance by recovering from your injury to compete at an even higher level. Example: Despite the many challenges they faced, our persevering students managed to finish what they started.

Other Word Forms

• nonpersevering
  adjective
• perseveringly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of persevering

First recorded in 1640–50; persevere + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Persevering with an overly challenging route is an experience some climbers will be able to relate to.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

"Persevering in China's own answers to shocks, rather than import answers found by the West, seems to be his thinking," said Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis.

From Reuters • Apr. 19, 2022

Persevering and renouncing mice self-stimulated for approximately the same time and with a similar number of events before foot-shock punishments began, yet the brains of the two groups seem to have changed in divergent ways.

From Nature • Dec. 18, 2018

Persevering in the service of others the doc was always thinking how he could make life better for his patients.

From Washington Times • Jun. 5, 2016

Persevering as Louis was, he had none of the weak obstinacy which cannot distinguish between means and ends.

From Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 A series of pen and pencil sketches of the lives of more than 200 of the most prominent personages in History by Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)