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continual
[ kuhn-tin-yoo-uhl ]
/ kÉnËtÉȘn yu Él /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
of regular or frequent recurrence; often repeated; very frequent: continual bus departures.
happening without interruption or cessation; continuous in time.
OTHER WORDS FOR continual
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Origin of continual
First recorded in 1300â50; from Medieval Latin continuÄlis, equivalent to Latin continu(us) âuninterruptedâ + -Älis adjective suffix; replacing Middle English continuel, from Middle French, from Latin, as above; see continuous, -al1
words often confused with continual
Although usage guides generally advise that continual may be used only to mean âintermittentâ and continuous only to mean âuninterrupted,â the words are used interchangeably in all kinds of speech and writing with no distinction in meaning: The president's life is under continual (or continuous ) scrutiny. Continuous (or continual ) bursts of laughter punctuated her testimony. The adverbs continually and continuously are also used interchangeably. To make a clear distinction between what occurs at short intervals and what proceeds without interruption, writers sometimes use the contrasting terms intermittent ( intermittent losses of power during the storm ) and uninterrupted ( uninterrupted reception during the storm ) or similar expressions. Continuous is not interchangeable with continual in the sense of spatial relationship: a continuous (not continual ) series of passages.
OTHER WORDS FROM continual
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH continual
continual , continuous (see confusables note at the current entry)Words nearby continual
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use continual in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for continual
continual
/ (kÉnËtÉȘnjÊÉl) /
adjective
recurring frequently, esp at regular intervals
occurring without interruption; continuous in time
Derived forms of continual
continuality or continualness, nouncontinually, adverbWord Origin for continual
C14: from Old French continuel, from Latin continuus uninterrupted, from continÄre to hold together, contain
undefined continual
See continuous
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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