definitions

persistent

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

vigorously, nimbly, eagerly, hastily, carefully, earnestly, energetically, laboriously, diligently, painstakingly, enthusiastically, restlessly, ardently, hurriedly, purposefully, assiduously, regularly, routinely, always, constantly

Nearby words

persis, persist, persistence, persistence of memory, the, persistence of vision, persistent, persistent anterior hyperplastic primary vitreous body, persistent chronic hepatitis, persistent cruelty, persistent organic pollutant, persistent posterior hyperplastic primary vitreous body

Origin of persistent

1820–30; < Latin persistent- (stem of persistēns), present participle of persistere to persist; see -ent
Related formsper·sist·ent·ly, adverbnon·per·sist·ent, adjectivenon·per·sist·ent·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for persistently

British Dictionary definitions for persistently

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 Formspersistently, 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

Word Origin and History for persistently

persistent

adj.

1723, from persistence or from Latin persistentem (nominative persistens), present participle of persistere (see persist). Related: Persistently.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper