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definitions

insist

[ in-sist ]
/ ɪnˈsɪst /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR insist ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to be emphatic, firm, or resolute on some matter of desire, demand, intention, etc.: He insists on checking every shipment.
to lay emphasis in assertion: to insist on the justice of a claim.
to dwell with earnestness or emphasis (usually followed by on or upon): to insist on a point in a discussion.

verb (used with object)

to assert or maintain firmly: He insists that he saw the ghosts.
to demand or persist in demanding: I insist that you see this thing through.

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RELATED WORDS

contend, urge, reiterate, repeat, request, maintain, assert, vow, demand, press, hold, swear, require, importune, asseverate, persist, aver

Nearby words

  1. insinuation,
  2. insipid,
  3. insipidity,
  4. insipience,
  5. insipient,
  6. insistence,
  7. insistency,
  8. insistent,
  9. insistently,
  10. insnare

Origin of insist

1580–90; < Latin insistere to stand still on, persist in, equivalent to in- in-2 + sistere to stand, make stand, reduplicated derivative from base of stāre to stand
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for insist

British Dictionary definitions for insist

insist

/ (ɪnˈsɪst) /

verb

to make a determined demand (for)he insisted that his rights be respected; he insisted on his rights
to express a convinced belief (in) or assertion (of)he insisted that she was mad; he insisted on her madness
Derived Formsinsister, nouninsistingly, adverb

Word Origin for insist

C16: from Latin insistere to stand upon, urge, from in- ² + sistere to stand
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for insist

insist

v.

1580s, from Latin insistere "persist, dwell upon, stand upon," from in- "upon" (see in- (2)) + sistere "take a stand" (see assist). Perhaps in some cases a back-formation from insistence. Related: Insisted; insisting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper