persist

[ per-sist, -zist ]

/ pərˈsɪst, -ˈzɪst /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: persist / persisted / persisting / persists on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR persist

3 insist.

See synonyms for persist on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of persist

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

synonym study for persist

1, 2. See continue.

OTHER WORDS FROM persist

per·sist·er, nounper·sist·ing·ly, adverbper·sis·tive, adjectiveper·sis·tive·ly, adverb

per·sis·tive·ness, nounnon·per·sist·ing, adjectiveun·per·sist·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use persist in a sentence

The issues persisted for more than two years and affected more than 418,000 advertisers, the company said.
Social Shorts: Instagram pegs Reels and Shop, Pinterest’s engagement metric, TikTok’s size and more|Ginny Marvin|November 16, 2020|Search Engine Land
It will ask players, coaches and team personnel to be extraordinarily disciplined, and they will do their best, and the cases will persist.
Sports were a distraction from the pandemic. Now they’re being battered by it.|Jerry Brewer|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
She said she didn’t file restraining orders against the men since warnings from the police have worked so far, but that she’d consider going that route if the threats persisted.
Women Politicians Across the County Say They’ve Faced Harassment, Threats|Kayla Jimenez|November 9, 2020|Voice of San Diego
However, the DNA of organisms persists in the cold, dark deeps for more than a day, meaning a seawater sample can say a lot more about who has recently been in that section of the ocean.
Scientists are tracking down deep sea creatures with free-floating DNA|Kat Eschner|November 5, 2020|Popular-Science

In other words, they showed that disorder can persist within larger graphs than previously known.
Disorder Persists in Larger Graphs, New Math Proof Finds|Kevin Hartnett|November 4, 2020|Quanta Magazine
Other work has found Mexican-American educational deficiencies persisting into the fourth generation after migration.
Immigration Amnesty: The Path to Poverty|David Frum|March 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The fault lines of the 2010 primary campaign show signs of persisting in Florida.
Newt's Secret Florida Weapon: Marco Rubio's 2010 Campaign Manager|John Avlon|January 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“The effort to keep on persisting with something called a newsmagazine is probably outdated at this point,” Brown says.
Inside The New Beast|Howard Kurtz|November 12, 2010|DAILY BEAST
And he, persisting in his tone of reverie—'I do not know—I do not remember.'
The Child of Pleasure|Gabriele D'Annunzio
"I'm only a boy sprout," said Roy, his wonted buoyancy persisting.
Tom Slade with the Colors|Percy K. Fitzhugh
Thus persisting in his disdain of reason as a moral guide, Mr. Vincent thought, acted, and suffered as a man of feeling.
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)|Maria Edgeworth
The good old woman was much embarrassed, when she found Aladdin persisting in so wild a design.
The Arabian Nights|Unknown
A tremendous sea was running on the 25th as a result of the previous two days' "blow" and a heavy gale still persisting.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson

British Dictionary definitions for persist

persist

/ (pəˈsɪst) /

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 forms of persist

persister, 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

persist

OTHER WORDS FOR persist

Origin of persist

synonym study for persist

OTHER WORDS FROM persist

Words related to persist

How to use persist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for persist

Derived forms of persist

Word Origin for persist