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persevere

[ pur-suh-veer ]
/ ˌpɜr səˈvɪər /
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See synonyms for: persevere / persevered / perseveres / persevering on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object), per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing.
to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.
to persist in speech, interrogation, argument, etc.; insist.
verb (used with object), per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing.
to bolster, sustain, or uphold: unflagging faith that had persevered him.
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Origin of persevere

1325–75; Middle English perseveren<Middle French perseverer<Latin persevērāre to persist, derivative of persevērus very strict. See per-, severe

synonym study for persevere

1. See continue.

Words nearby persevere

Perseus cluster, perseverance, perseverant, perseverate, perseveration, persevere, persevering, Pershing, Pershing II, Pershing, John, Persia
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

MORE ABOUT PERSEVERE

What does persevere mean?

To persevere is to continue to do or try to achieve something despite difficulty or discouragement. A close synonym is persist.

The word is typically used in a positive way to refer to the actions of someone who doesn’t give up no matter what. A person perseveres when they keep trying despite major challenges and setbacks.

The noun perseverance refers to the act of persevering or the quality of those who persevere, as in You showed great perseverance by recovering from your injury to compete at an even higher level.

The adjective persevering can be used to describe those who persevere or their actions, as in Without the persevering efforts of our first responders, we would not have been able to save so many lives. 

Example: Only if we work hard and persevere will we be able to achieve our goal—it will not be easy.

Where does persevere come from?

The first records of the word persevere come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin persevērāre, meaning “to persist,” from persevērus, “very strict.”

Persevering takes strict discipline. People who persevere may want to give up, but they keep going. Perseverance is often associated with other qualities that are thought to be essential for achieving success, like patience and a willingness to work hard. But persevering is more than working hard—it’s continuing to work hard even after failing.

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What are some other forms related to persevere?

What are some synonyms for persevere?

What are some words that share a root or word element with persevere? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing persevere?

How is persevere used in real life?

Persevere is almost always used positively. Persevering is often associated with patience and courage.

 

 

 

Try using persevere!

Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym of persevere?

A. persist
B. quit
C. press on
D. endure

Words related to persevere

endure, hold on, persist, press on, proceed, pursue, continue, maintain, remain, carry on, go for broke, go for it, go on, hang in, hang tough, keep on, leave no stone unturned, plug away, stay the course

How to use persevere in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for persevere

persevere
/ (ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪə) /
verb
(intr often foll by in) to show perseverance

Derived forms of persevere

persevering, adjectiveperseveringly, adverb

Word Origin for persevere

C14: from Old French perseverer, from Latin persevērāre, from perseverus very strict; see severe
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
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