persist

American  

[per-sist, -zist] / pərˈsɪst, -ˈzɪst /

verb (used without object)

persists, present (3rd person singular) persisted, past participle, past persisting present participle

1. 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.

2. to last or endure tenaciously.

   The legend of King Arthur has persisted for nearly fifteen centuries.

3. to be insistent in a statement, request, question, etc.

   Synonyms:

   insist

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verb (used with object)

persists, present (3rd person singular) persisted, past participle, past persisting present participle

1. Computers. to cause (a record, configuration, value, etc.) to be written to permanent storage by the scripted process that created it, so that it continues to exist in the same state after the script has finished running.

persist British  

/ pəˈsɪst /

verb

1. (often foll by in) to continue steadfastly or obstinately despite opposition or difficulty

2. to continue to exist or occur without interruption

   the rain persisted throughout the night

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Synonym Usage

See continue.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• persistiveness
  noun
• persistively
  adverb
• persistingly
  adverb
• nonpersisting
  adjective
• persistive
  adjective
• persister
  noun
• unpersisting
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has persisted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have persisted
  perfect
• has been persisting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are persisting
  progressive
• have been persisting
  perfect progressive
• is persisting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• persists
  singular 3rd person
• am persisting
  progressive 1st person singular
• persisting
  participle

Past

• had persisted
  perfect
• were persisting
  progressive plural
• had been persisting
  perfect progressive
• was persisting
  progressive singular
• persisted
  participle
• persisted
  simple

Future

• will persist
  simple
• will have persisted
  perfect
• will be persisting
  progressive
• will have been persisting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of persist

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin persistere, literally, “to stand firm permanently,” equivalent to per- per- ( def. ) + sistere “to (cause to) stand,” akin to stāre “to stand ( def. ) ”

Explanation

When someone persists they keep going or hang on. If you want to finish a marathon, you have to persist and keep running, no matter how many blisters you have. The great Roman poet Ovid once advised: “Endure and persist, this pain will turn good by and by.” As Ovid’s quote hints at, persistence is often associated with hardship and the reward that comes with not backing down. Synonyms include endure, follow through, and persevere, while antonyms include cease and give up.

Example Sentences

Lower temperatures will persist into Thursday as a large area of rain moves in from the west across many parts of the UK.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

But he also reiterated his prediction that shortages could persist until 2030, with chip factories taking at least three years to build.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

None of this is news, but on the 50th anniversary of the death penalty’s reinstatement in the United States, it is worth reflecting on why those problems persist.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

A second Fed voter, Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan, earlier this week indicated she would support a rate increase later this year if current conditions persist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

I would reply that for as long as meaningful contact between the races was forbidden by law, the stereotypes each race had of the other would persist.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

• carry on
• carry over
• continue
• endure
• go on
• linger
• persevere
• prevail
• pursue
• recur
• remain