perennial
lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring: As my grandmother aged, I marveled at her perennial beauty.
(of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years.
lasting or continuing throughout the entire year: The interpretive boardwalk follows a perennial stream through the marsh to the lake.
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.
a plant with a life cycle lasting more than two years: Daffodils and tulips are perennials.
something that is continuing, recurring, or enduring: Classical literature remains a perennial in liberal arts classrooms.
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.
Origin of perennial
1Other words for perennial
Other words from perennial
- per·en·ni·al·i·ty [puh-ren-ee-al-i-tee], /pəˌrɛn iˈæl ɪ ti/, noun
- per·en·ni·al·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with perennial
- annual, perennial
Words Nearby perennial
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use perennial in a sentence
They were blessed with two of the top 10 quarterbacks ever, back to back, and they’ve been a perennial contender.
Aaron Rodgers, entering a showdown with Tom Brady, has gone from chippy to chill | Jerry Brewer | January 22, 2021 | Washington PostLou Williams, a perennial sixth man of the year candidate, has started slowly and has missed Montrezl Harrell, his longtime pick-and-roll partner.
The Clippers don’t look ready to seriously challenge the Lakers | Ben Golliver | January 11, 2021 | Washington PostSimmons said Scott has broken what had become a troubling pattern in education giving — of the rich getting ever richer — a perennial trend that reinforces racial inequities.
‘Transformational’: MacKenzie Scott’s gifts to HBCUs, other colleges surpass $800 million | Nick Anderson, Lauren Lumpkin | December 18, 2020 | Washington PostWest won 60,160 votes in California as perennial candidate Roque de la Fuente’s candidate for vice president, but he didn’t ask to be put on that ballot and urged voters to write his name in for president instead.
The Trailer: What we learned from the 2020 election, now that it's officially over | David Weigel | December 17, 2020 | Washington PostZoom was the most-downloaded iPhone and iPad app of the year, beating perennial favorites like Instagram and YouTube.
The pandemic was great for Zoom. What happens when there’s a vaccine? | Rani Molla | December 4, 2020 | Vox
Their cases illustrate the perennial challenge of balancing ends and means in the complex world of intelligence operations.
Iowa is a perennial swing state, and polls show the race in a virtual tie.
The Bruce Braley-Joni Ernst Race Is Iowa’s Ugliest Senate Campaign Ever | Ben Jacobs | July 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd the omission or derision of dads in the parent (aka “mommy”) blogosphere is a perennial pet peeve.
A perennial signature flavor is Flying Elvis: banana ice cream that contains peanut butter and chocolate chunks.
For the GOP, all this raises a perennial question from the movie New Jack City: “Who else you got?”
They foreclose without mercy, but that does not frighten their old patrons, who have the perennial optimism of the country.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonAs they went down into the valley of the Thyme, the babble of the stream rose into the air like a perennial laughter.
Tales and Fantasies | Robert Louis StevensonIt was on the square of land where she had had her perennial bed for three years, and now she had decided to sow it down to grass.
Country Neighbors | Alice BrownAlthough the Nestor of composers, none equalled him in manly vigour and perennial youth.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician | Frederick NiecksIn discussing literature, they spoke of the perennial stock-in-trade of the republic of letters—woman's sin.
Honorine | Honore de Balzac
British Dictionary definitions for perennial
/ (pəˈrɛnɪəl) /
lasting throughout the year or through many years
everlasting; perpetual
a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two years: Compare annual (def. 3), biennial (def. 3)
Origin of perennial
1Derived forms of perennial
- perennially, adverb
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
Scientific definitions for perennial
[ pə-rĕn′ē-əl ]
Living for three or more years.
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. Compare annual biennial.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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