perseverance
noun
per·se·ver·ance
ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-ən(t)s 
: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : the action or condition or an instance of persevering : steadfastness
His perseverance was rewarded: after many rejections, he finally found a job.
The road to the American dream was supposed to be built on perseverance and hard work.—
Ms. Guzman
Ms. GuzmanAaliyah and her artistry live on as a symbol of perseverance.—Julian Kimble
Julian KimbleExamples of perseverance in a Sentence
The great international collectors and curators, once celebrated for their perceptiveness and perseverance, are now regularly deplored as traffickers in, or receivers of, stolen goods.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Review of Books, 9 Feb. 2006
… a cavalcade of black and brown and female faces spinning stories of hardship and triumph through perseverance.
—Michelle Cottle, New Republic, 14 Aug. 2000
… he had no-nonsense coaches with hearts of gold who taught him discipline; he learned perseverance from a father who sent him back out to fight after he took a licking …
—Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 14 Dec. 1998
His perseverance was rewarded: after many rejections, he finally found a job.
Perseverance is required to perfect just about any skill.
Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Review of Books, 9 Feb. 2006
… a cavalcade of black and brown and female faces spinning stories of hardship and triumph through perseverance.
—Michelle Cottle, New Republic, 14 Aug. 2000
… he had no-nonsense coaches with hearts of gold who taught him discipline; he learned perseverance from a father who sent him back out to fight after he took a licking …
—Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 14 Dec. 1998
His perseverance was rewarded: after many rejections, he finally found a job.
Perseverance is required to perfect just about any skill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Darnold’s success, like Ryan’s, has been a testament to perseverance and adaptability.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
The constant losing was brutal, but Stephenie’s perseverance and never-say-die attitude made her one of the most popular players in franchise history, even with her seventh-place finish.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Cronin praised the Bruins’ offensive output and perseverance through fatigue.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
When Haiti’s two-person Olympic team files into the stadium on Friday for the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Games, Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean hopes the scene will highlight not the rarity of the moment, rather the Caribbean nation’s cultural identity and perseverance.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perseverance
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J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
The constant losing was brutal, but Stephenie’s perseverance and never-say-die attitude made her one of the most popular players in franchise history, even with her seventh-place finish.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Cronin praised the Bruins’ offensive output and perseverance through fatigue.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
When Haiti’s two-person Olympic team files into the stadium on Friday for the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Games, Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean hopes the scene will highlight not the rarity of the moment, rather the Caribbean nation’s cultural identity and perseverance.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perseverance
Cite this Entry
“Perseverance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perseverance. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perseverance
noun
per·se·ver·ance
ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-ən(t)s
: the action, state, or an instance of persevering
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