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View synonyms for persevere

persevere

[ pur-suh-veer ]

verb (used without object)

, per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing.
  1. to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.
  2. to persist in speech, interrogation, argument, etc.; insist.


verb (used with object)

, per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing.
  1. to bolster, sustain, or uphold:

    unflagging faith that had persevered him.

persevere

/ ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪə /

verb

  1. introften foll byin to show perseverance
“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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Derived Forms

  • ˌperseˈveringly, adverb
  • ˌperseˈvering, adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of persevere1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English perseveren, from Middle French perseverer, from Latin persevērāre “to persist,” derivative of persevērus “very strict”; per-, severe
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Word History and Origins

Origin of persevere1

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

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Example Sentences

The person jogging alone on the treadmill, a person persevering in the loneliness of our times.

These are characters who keep going, who endure and persevere and keep fighting.

While some have persevered in the face of these looming obstacles, survivors and descendants are still waiting for justice.

From Time

The theater industry has persevered through a catastrophic year during which they had no mainstream movies to show.

From Quartz

I have invested so much time, energy, and love in my crew team and they have in turn given me friendship, trust, and the strength to persevere through everything life has thrown my way.

There have been many struggles, trials, battles, and losses through which my name has helped me persevere.

She writes of the struggles, battles, and losses through which her name has helped her persevere—to the role that made her famous.

I wrote about the motivations of businessmen, and their determination to persevere.

“The secret of her success and survival is her enormous ability to persevere,” Grubman says.

These are very determined and deliberate people who will almost always persevere no matter what impediments we place in their way.

The friends of truth cannot justifiably persevere in supporting the British Constitution as the ordinance of God.

All that is necessary is to persevere faithfully in the ordinary duties of life, and to perform them to the best of our ability.

By exerting myself to persevere for about a month, I was enabled to feel perfectly resigned.

Tidings of the repulse were brought to Pitt; he sent reinforcements and ordered the commander to persevere.

What do girls amount to who think only of their own pleasure, and never persevere to the successful end?

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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.

Did you know ... ?

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

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