perpetual

[per-pech-oo-uhl]

adjective

1. continuing or enduring forever; everlasting.

   Synonyms: enduring, permanent
   Antonyms: temporary

2. lasting an indefinitely long time.

   perpetual snow.

3. continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless.

   a perpetual stream of visitors all day.

   Synonyms: uninterrupted, unending, constant, incessant, continuous
   Antonyms: discontinuous

4. blooming almost continuously throughout the season or the year.

noun

1. a hybrid rose that is perpetual.

2. a perennial plant.

perpetual

/ pəˈpɛtjʊəl /

adjective

1. (usually prenominal) eternal; permanent

2. (usually prenominal) seemingly ceaseless because often repeated

   your perpetual complaints

3. horticulture blooming throughout the growing season or year

noun

1. (of a crop plant) continually producing edible parts: perpetual spinach

2. a plant that blooms throughout the growing season

Other Word Forms

• perpetually adverb
• perpetuality noun
• perpetualness noun
• nonperpetual adjective
• quasi-perpetual adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetual¹

First recorded in 1300–50; late Middle English perpetuall, from Latin perpetuālis “permanent, universal, general,” equivalent to perpetu(us) “continuous, uninterrupted” ( per- “through, thoroughly” + pet-, base of petere “to seek, reach for” + -uus adjective suffix derived from a verb) + -ālis adjective suffix; replacing Middle English perpetuel, from Middle French, from Latin as above; per-, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetual¹

C14: via Old French from Latin perpetuālis universal, from perpes continuous, from per- (thoroughly) + petere to go towards

Synonym Study

See eternal.

Example Sentences

It is only the latest of a series of expansion and overhaul projects that have kept LAX in a state of what feels like perpetual construction.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Countries that run perpetual trade deficits to finance consumption, borrowing abroad to do so, eventually must pay back the debt.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They’ll be celebrating the crystal anniversary of the perpetual Obama-Mamdani dodge: Everything is affordable if billionaires just pay their fair share.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many of those who have left have set up precarious new lives in Europe, often struggling to find work and living in perpetual fear of becoming targets of the Russian state.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Last year, BBC chair Samir Shah said there was "an almost perpetual government review over the BBC" as a result of the requirement for ministers to renew the broadcaster's royal charter every 10 years.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ceaseless 
• constant 
• continued 
• continuous 
• endless 
• enduring 
• eternal 
• incessant 
• infinite 
• interminable 
• never-ending 
• perennial 
• permanent 
• persistent 
• recurring 
• unceasing 
• unending