persistent

American  

[per-sis-tuhnt, -zis-] / pərˈsɪs tənt, -ˈzɪs- /

adjective

1. persisting, especially in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.; persevering.

   a most annoyingly persistent young man.

   Synonyms:

   tenacious, pertinacious, indefatigable

2. lasting or enduring tenaciously.

   the persistent aroma of verbena; a persistent cough.

3. constantly repeated; continued.

   persistent noise.

   Synonyms:

   steady, constant

   Antonyms:

   sporadic

4. Biology.

   1. continuing or permanent.

   2. having continuity of phylogenetic characteristics.

5. Botany. remaining attached beyond the usual time, as flowers, flower parts, or leaves.

---

persistent British  

/ pəˈsɪstənt /

adjective

1. showing persistence

2. incessantly repeated; unrelenting

   your persistent questioning

3. (of plant parts) remaining attached to the plant after the normal time of withering

   a fruit surrounded by a persistent perianth

4. zoology

   1. (of parts normally present only in young stages) present in the adult

      persistent gills in axolotls

   2. continuing to grow or develop after the normal period of growth

      persistent teeth

5. (of a chemical, esp when used as an insecticide) slow to break down; not easily degradable

---

Related Words

See stubborn.

Other Word Forms

• nonpersistent adjective
• nonpersistently adverb
• persistently adverb

Etymology

Origin of persistent

First recorded in 1820–30; from Latin persistent- (stem of persistēns ), present participle of persistere “to stand firm, persist”; see persist, -ent

Explanation

If something is persistent, it just won't stop. If you're persistent in your suggestions for a trip to Mexico, maybe your parents will eventually give in and take you there. Persistent comes from the Latin verb persistere which means "to continue with strength." A persistent salesman refuses to give up. A persistent ringing sound is one that repeats and repeats. Persistent rumors keep circulating, as does a persistent virus. Often something persistent is annoying. The related verb is persist, which means to continue to exist, or to go without stopping.

Example Sentences

Department officials concluded that McCarty, the most senior technician on the scene, should have been more persistent when it became clear that his advice was not being followed, according to the leaked investigative file.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

Still, Yu cautioned that China faces an uncertain external environment, alongside a persistent domestic imbalance of strong supply and weak demand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Far less certain, however, is Warsh’s ability to realize his ambitious agenda, given persistent inflation, rising oil prices, and the increasingly hawkish tilt of the Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed’s policy-setting arm.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

There is a persistent belief in certain corners of the tech world that complex social problems can be eliminated through computation.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

One of the most persistent problems of the day was “offensive feet,” caused by the prevailing habit of washing feet only once a week.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• constant
• continual
• endless
• enduring
• incessant
• insistent
• perpetual
• relentless
• repeated
• resolute
• steadfast
• steady
• stubborn
• tenacious
• unrelenting
• unremitting