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persist

[per-sist, -zist]
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verb (used without object)

to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, especially in spite of opposition, remonstrance, etc.: to persist in working for world peace; to persist in unpopular political activities.
to last or endure tenaciously: The legend of King Arthur has persisted for nearly fifteen centuries.
to be insistent in a statement, request, question, etc.

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RELATED WORDS

persevere, recur, linger, pursue, remain, continue, endure, prevail, repeat, last, obtain, abide, grind, insist, strive, perseverate, perdure

Nearby words

  1. persichetti, vincent,
  2. persiennes,
  3. persiflage,
  4. persimmon,
  5. persis,
  6. persistence,
  7. persistence of memory, the,
  8. persistence of vision,
  9. persistent,
  10. persistent anterior hyperplastic primary vitreous body

Origin of persist

1530–40; < Latin persistere literally, to stand firm permanently, equivalent to per- per- + -sistere, akin to stāre to stand
Related forms

Synonym study

1, 2. See continue.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for persist

British Dictionary definitions for persist

persist

verb (intr)

(often foll by in) to continue steadfastly or obstinately despite opposition or difficulty
to continue to exist or occur without interruptionthe rain persisted throughout the night
Derived Formspersister, noun

Word Origin for persist

C16: from Latin persistere, from per- (intensive) + sistere to stand steadfast, from stāre to stand
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 persist

persist

v.

1530s, from Middle French persister (14c.), from Latin persistere "abide, continue steadfastly," from per- "thoroughly" (see per) + sistere "come to stand, cause to stand still" (see assist). Related: Persisted; persisting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper