persevere

[pur-suh-veer]

See more synonyms for persevere 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.

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

1. See continue.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for persevered

proceed, pursue, endure, persist, remain, continue, maintain

Examples from the Web for persevered

Contemporary Examples of persevered

But Miss Piggy persevered, transforming her culpabilities into a successful career and becoming an icon to countless generations.
Miss Piggy Leans In
Erin Cunningham
March 23, 2014
Sarne persevered, editing his sex-change opus right up to premiere night, June 24.
When Hollywood Flirted with Porn: 1969, ‘Myra Breckinridge,’ ‘Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,’ & 20th Century Fox
Robert Hofler
February 1, 2014
The Fullers persevered out of stubbornness, but more important out of an abiding love for their adopted continent.
Great Weekend Reads
Malcolm Jones, Matt Gallagher, Saul Austerlitz, Sharon Steel
September 11, 2011
Kaguri has persevered while death tried to pull him and his community down.
How to Change the World
Isabel Kaplan
August 11, 2010
It will claim that Israeli yielded because Hamas persevered and responded to Israel with force.
Israel's New Crisis at Sea
Thanassis Cambanis
June 21, 2010

Historical Examples of persevered

Eudora persevered in silence, but her agitation obviously increased.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
Yet, her spirit triumphed, and again she persevered in that resolve to live straight.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
It will effect a cure if persevered in; sometimes in less than a week.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
But we persevered and found nature responsive to our demands.
Life: Its True Genesis
R. W. Wright
The friends at home sent him another small remittance, and he persevered.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles

British Dictionary definitions for persevered

persevere

verb

(intr often foll by in) to show perseverance

Derived Formspersevering, 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

Word Origin and History for persevered

persevere

mid-14c., from Old French perseverer "continue, persevere, endure" and directly from Latin perseverare "continue steadfastly, persist," from persevereus "very strict, earnest," from per- "very" (see per) + severus "strict" (see severity). Related: Persevered; persevering.