insist

verb

in·​sist in-ˈsist 

insisted; insisting; insists

intransitive verb

1

: to be emphatic, firm, or resolute about something intended, demanded, or required

They insist on going.

2

archaic : persist

transitive verb

: to maintain in a persistent or positive manner

insisted that the story was true

Synonyms of insist

• allege
• claim
• assert
• contend
• maintain
• declare

Examples of insist in a Sentence

I didn't want to go, but she insisted.

“Come on, let's go.” “Oh, all right, if you insist.”

She insists the money is hers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Enterprise legal teams in 2026 routinely insist on data exit covering prompts, embeddings, and fine-tunes. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Russia has relentlessly pounded civilian areas of Ukraine, even though Moscow insists its forces target only military facilities. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

The group has been open about drawing on Korean expertise – training from specialists who have worked with K-pop idols – while insisting its sound remains distinct. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026

Olya’s mother insisting on children, a Kafkaesque maze of exit paperwork, topped with some real existential dread of the mundane. — Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French insister, from Latin insistere to stand upon, persist, from in- + sistere to take a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing insist

• insist on/upon

Rhymes for insist

• assist
• blacklist
• booklist
• checklist
• consist
• desist
• dismissed
• enlist
• exist
• oocyst
• persist
• resist

Kids Definition

insist

verb

in·​sist in-ˈsist 

1

: to place special stress or great importance

insists on punctuality

2

: to make a demand : request urgently

insisted that I come