insist

American

[in-sist] / ɪnˈsɪst /

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 orupon ).

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.

Synonyms:

require, urge

insist British

/ 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

"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

Other Word Forms

insister noun
insistingly adverb
overinsist verb (used without object)
reinsist verb (used without object)
superinsist verb (used without object)

Etymology

Origin of insist

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin insistere “to stand still on, persist in,” from in- in- ² + sistere “to cause to stand, stop” ( stand )

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.

Rubio also insisted that for the talks to "lead to something meaningful" they could not focus solely on the Iranian nuclear programme, as Iranian officials have demanded.

From BBC

Odermatt also insisted that he liked being the target whenever racers take to the start hut.

From Barron's

"There is no reason to move the materials abroad when we can eliminate the sources of concern" about their end use, Shamkhani insisted.

From Barron's

In his police interview, conducted the day after he was arrested, Skebas told police, "I would like you to contact Nasa" and insisted the US space agency could help.

From BBC

By the 1840s, anti-Catholic nativists insisted that the foreign-born should likewise be excluded, or at least compelled to wait longer than the customary five years of residency before earning voting rights.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023