perennial

[puh-ren-ee-uhl]

adjective

1. lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring.

   As my grandmother aged, I marveled at her perennial beauty.

   Synonyms: continual, incessant, constant, perdurable

2. (of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years.

3. lasting or continuing throughout the entire year.

   The interpretive boardwalk follows a perennial stream through the marsh to the lake.

4. arising repeatedly or always existing; perpetual; recurrent.

   Tie dye is a perennial hit with children of all ages.

   The perennial rivalry between the two colleges ramps up during football season.

   Synonyms: immortal, eternal, undying, imperishable

5. Sometimes Perennial relating to or being an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes; ageless.

   Many companies are seeking to retain their perennial workers so as not to lose institutional history.

   This writer is a Perennial thinker, which is why he is successful and yet not really popular.

noun

1. a plant with a life cycle lasting more than two years.

   Daffodils and tulips are perennials.

2. something that is continuing, recurring, or enduring.

   Classical literature remains a perennial in liberal arts classrooms.

3. Sometimes Perennial an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes.

   At 81, the mayor calls herself a Perennial with no plans to retire.

perennial

/ pəˈrɛnɪəl /

adjective

1. lasting throughout the year or through many years

2. everlasting; perpetual

noun

1. a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two years Compare annual biennial

perennial

1. Living for three or more years.

1. A perennial plant. Herbaceous perennials survive winter and drought as underground roots, rhizomes, bulbs, corms, or tubers. Woody perennials, including vines, shrubs, and trees, usually stop growing during winter and drought. Asters, irises, tulips, and peonies are familiar garden perennials.

2. Compare annual biennial

Other Word Forms

• perennially adverb
• perenniality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of perennial¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin perenni(s) “lasting the whole year through” ( per- per- ( def. ) + -enn-, stem of annus “year” + -is, adjective suffix) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of perennial¹

C17: from Latin perennis continual, from per through + annus year

Example Sentences

More than 250 varieties of plants, particularly grasses and perennials, are present here, arranged across seven gardens.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That matters because the perennial urge to get rich quick gets worse when people think it’s become virtually free.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A man once appeared on “Fox and Friends,” the Fox News morning show, to offer his opinion about an impending government shutdown over one of America’s perennial budget battles.

Read more on Salon

This year's guest list was conspicuously missing screen stars or celebrity faces, with not even royal perennials like Sir David Beckham or Sir Elton John attending.

Read more on BBC

Roberts is shouldering the responsibility of missing the mark of turning a perennial losing team into a winner, like she was hired to do.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chronic 
• continual 
• continuing www.thesaurus.com
• eternal 
• longstanding 
• never-ending 
• persistent 
• recurrent 
• seasonal