persist

verb

per·​sist pər-ˈsist How to pronounce persist (audio) -ˈzist How to pronounce persist (audio)
persisted; persisting; persists
Synonyms of persistnext

intransitive verb

1
: to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning
2
obsolete : to remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position
3
: to be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (such as a question or an opinion)
4
: to continue to exist especially past a usual, expected, or normal time
persister noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for persist

continue, last, endure, abide, persist mean to exist over a period of time or indefinitely.

continue applies to a process going on without ending.

the search for peace will continue

last, especially when unqualified, may stress existing beyond what is normal or expected.

buy shoes that will last

endure adds an implication of resisting destructive forces or agencies.

in spite of everything, her faith endured

abide implies stable and constant existing especially as opposed to mutability.

a love that abides through 40 years of marriage

persist suggests outlasting the normal or appointed time and often connotes obstinacy or doggedness.

the sense of guilt persisted

Examples of persist in a Sentence

She had turned him down for a date before, but he persisted and asked her again. The reporter persisted with his questioning. If you persist with this behavior, you will be punished. Must you persist in making that noise? If the pain persists, see a doctor. Doubts about the defendant's story have persisted for some time now. Rumors persist that they are dating.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Latino voter dissatisfaction persisted despite better economic markers as the election progressed. —Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024 The rancor between the two men has persisted and grown since the Hamas attack last October. —Tara John, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024 If the drought persists, who’s going to feel it the most? —Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2024 The debate over whether Lebanese people are more Phoenician or more Arab has persisted for generations. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for persist 

Word History

Etymology

Middle French persister, from Latin persistere, from per- + sistere to take a stand, stand firm; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of persist was in 1531

Dictionary Entries Near persist

Persis

persist

persistence

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Persist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persist. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

persist

verb
per·​sist pər-ˈsist How to pronounce persist (audio) -ˈzist How to pronounce persist (audio)
1
: to continue to do something in spite of opposition, warnings, or pleas : persevere
2
: to last on and on : continue to exist
persister noun

More from Merriam-Webster on persist

Nglish: Translation of persist for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of persist for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Is That Gratitude or Attitude? A Thanksgiving Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...