insist
verb (used without object)
to be emphatic, firm, or resolute on some matter of desire, demand, intention, etc..
had insisted
-
past perfectof insist.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Earlier on Monday, a No 10 spokesperson had insisted RAF Fairford was safe and pointed to Trump's comments last week, where he praised the UK's "police, defence and security services" in relation to the base.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Van had insisted that his first victory wasn’t solely due to Pantoja’s injury, while the Brazilian argued that the December result didn’t show who was truly the better fighter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
Ratko Mladic, the so-called "butcher of Bosnia" who has reportedly died at the age of either 83 or 84, had insisted he was chosen by "fate" to defend the Serb people from a Western onslaught.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
The publisher had insisted on oath at the 2011 Leveson Inquiry into press standards that there had been no wrongdoing at its newspapers.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
“There’s no need to make two trips,” Mrs. Richardson had pointed out, but Mia had insisted midday was the best time for her photography.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
