Dictionary.com

persistent

[ per-sis-tuhnt, -zis- ]
/ pərˈsɪs tənt, -ˈzɪs- /
See synonyms for: persistent / persistently on Thesaurus.com

adjective

persisting, especially in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.; persevering: a most annoyingly persistent young man.
lasting or enduring tenaciously: the persistent aroma of verbena; a persistent cough.
constantly repeated; continued: persistent noise.
Biology.
  1. continuing or permanent.
  2. having continuity of phylogenetic characteristics.
Botany. remaining attached beyond the usual time, as flowers, flower parts, or leaves.

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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

synonym study for persistent

1. See stubborn.

OTHER WORDS FROM persistent

per·sist·ent·ly, adverbnon·per·sist·ent, adjectivenon·per·sist·ent·ly, adverb

Words nearby persistent

persimmon, Persis, persist, persistence, persistence of vision, persistent, persistent anterior hyperplastic primary vitreous body, persistent chronic hepatitis, persistent cruelty, persistent organic pollutant, persistent posterior hyperplastic primary vitreous body
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to persistent

tenacious, stubborn, unrelenting, constant, enduring, steadfast, resolute, perpetual, steady, incessant, repeated, insistent, unremitting, continual, relentless, endless, assiduous, bound, dogged, firm

Example sentences from the Web for persistent

British Dictionary definitions for persistent

persistent
/ (pəˈsɪstənt) /

adjective

showing persistence
incessantly repeated; unrelentingyour persistent questioning
(of plant parts) remaining attached to the plant after the normal time of witheringa fruit surrounded by a persistent perianth
zoology
  1. (of parts normally present only in young stages) present in the adultpersistent gills in axolotls
  2. continuing to grow or develop after the normal period of growthpersistent teeth
(of a chemical, esp when used as an insecticide) slow to break down; not easily degradable

Derived forms of persistent

persistently, adverb
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