persist

[per-sist, -zist]

verb (used without object)

1. to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, especially in spite of opposition, remonstrance, etc..

   to persist in working for world peace;

   to persist in unpopular political activities.

2. to last or endure tenaciously.

   The legend of King Arthur has persisted for nearly fifteen centuries.

3. to be insistent in a statement, request, question, etc.

   Synonyms: insist

verb (used with object)

1. Computers.,  to cause (a record, configuration, value, etc.) to be written to permanent storage by the scripted process that created it, so that it continues to exist in the same state after the script has finished running.

persist

/ pəˈsɪst /

verb

1. (often foll by in) to continue steadfastly or obstinately despite opposition or difficulty

2. to continue to exist or occur without interruption

   the rain persisted throughout the night

Other Word Forms

• persister noun
• persistingly adverb
• persistive adjective
• persistively adverb
• persistiveness noun
• nonpersisting adjective
• unpersisting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of persist¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin persistere, literally, “to stand firm permanently,” equivalent to per- per- ( def. ) + sistere “to (cause to) stand,” akin to stāre “to stand ( def. ) ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of persist¹

C16: from Latin persistere, from per- (intensive) + sistere to stand steadfast, from stāre to stand

Synonym Study

See continue.

Example Sentences

At the same time, worries about rich valuations persist, and some fear that the momentum driving this market might be nearing a short-term peak.

Read more on MarketWatch

The business has become increasingly complicated, the threat posed by compounded GLP-1 drugs persists, and some highly anticipated follow-on drugs have disappointed.

Read more on Barron's

Several economists have estimated that a shutdown would reduce GDP growth by 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points for each week it persists.

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And although skilled labor shortages persist in the U.S., pharmaceutical training demands are lower than those in high-tech sectors.

Read more on Barron's

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has asked for one year to fix the country's challenges, promising that if they persist, he will resign.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• carry on 
• carry over 
• continue 
• endure 
• go on 
• linger 
• persevere 
• prevail 
• pursue 
• recur 
• remain