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. 2021

VOCAB BUILDER

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?

perseverance (verb)
persevering (continuous tense verb, adjective)

What are some synonyms for persevere?

persist
endure
keep going
press on

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.

“I don’t pray for the absence of hardship anymore. It’s inescapable.

I prepare myself to persevere, get knocked over, and get back up again.

I recognize that my hardships have molded me into a better man.”

⚡️My latest. https://t.co/lZrv4EcOGV pic.twitter.com/uneLytq64o

— love yourself. (@MichellCClark) January 30, 2018

Shout out to everyone going through life-altering mind-bending brain-inverting inside-out challenges. I’m right there with you. The only way out is through. You will persevere, and no mater what happens, you will be changed, and toughened ♥️

— Dr. Sarah "Practically Famous" Parcak (@indyfromspace) September 13, 2020

Try using persevere!

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

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

Example sentences from the Web for persevere

Teachers can build upon young children’s urge to know, helping them become more sustained and persevering in their pursuit of information.
Many Kids Ask Fewer Questions When They Start School. Here's How We Can Foster Their Curiosity|Susan Engel|February 23, 2021|Time
Not game them — he wasn’t hacking anything — but persevere, knowing how they worked, until they did work.
My mother and her friends couldn’t get coronavirus vaccine appointments, so they turned to a stranger for help. He’s 13.|Greg Harris|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
There have been many struggles, trials, battles, and losses through which my name has helped me persevere.
Uzo Aduba: My Road to ‘Orange Is the New Black’|Uzoamaka Aduba|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She writes of the struggles, battles, and losses through which her name has helped her persevere—to the role that made her famous.
Uzo Aduba: My Road to ‘Orange Is the New Black’|Uzoamaka Aduba|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I wrote about the motivations of businessmen, and their determination to persevere.
Not the Story You Were Expecting from Lebanon|Cathy Huyghe|October 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“The secret of her success and survival is her enormous ability to persevere,” Grubman says.
How Martha Stewart Got Her Groove Back|Lloyd Grove|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
These are very determined and deliberate people who will almost always persevere no matter what impediments we place in their way.
Forget What You've Heard: Mass Shootings Aren't Rising. But They Probably Aren't Going Away|Megan McArdle|February 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The friends of truth cannot justifiably persevere in supporting the British Constitution as the ordinance of God.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
All that is necessary is to persevere faithfully in the ordinary duties of life, and to perform them to the best of our ability.
Mary, Help of Christians|Various
By exerting myself to persevere for about a month, I was enabled to feel perfectly resigned.
My Ten Years' Imprisonment|Silvio Pellico
Tidings of the repulse were brought to Pitt; he sent reinforcements and ordered the commander to persevere.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
What do girls amount to who think only of their own pleasure, and never persevere to the successful end?
Growing Up|Jennie M. Drinkwater

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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persevere

verb (used without object), per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing.

verb (used with object), per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing.