perpetual

adjective per·pet·u·al \ pər-ˈpe-chə-wəl , -chəl ; -ˈpech-wəl \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of perpetual

1 a : continuing forever : everlasting

perpetual motion

b (1) : valid for all time

a perpetual right

(2) : holding something (such as an office) for life or for an unlimited time

2 : occurring continually : indefinitely long-continued

perpetual problems

3 : blooming continuously throughout the season

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perpetually

adverb

See perpetual defined for English-language learners

See perpetual defined for kids

Examples of perpetual in a Sentence

As always, I was struck by how the core values of the military—service and discipline, both physical and intellectual—are so different from the perpetual American Mardi Gras. —Joe Klein, Time, 29 Aug. 2005
Because Hunter had been a perpetual Peter Pan, accepting the bleak reality of his death came hard. —Douglas Brinkley, Rolling Stone, 22 Sept. 2005
He's addicted to the perpetual flux of the information networks. He craves his next data fix. He's a speed freak, an info junkie. —David Brooks, Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2001
Only after I had built to the emotional peroration culminating in the word "astonishing" was I at last sufficiently unastonished by the force of my feelings to be able to put together a couple of hours of sleep—or something resembling sleep, for, even half out of it, I was a biography in perpetual motion, memory to the marrow of my bones. —Philip Roth, American Pastoral, 1997
The region is in a state of perpetual war.
He seems to have a perpetual grin on his face.
the perpetual demands of parenthood

Recent Examples of perpetual from the Web

But only one group gets to mourn its loss and publicly lament lives lost fighting to maintain our perpetual suffering.

— angela helm, The Root, "Happy Confederate Day! On Lynching Memorials and Winning the Narrative War," 23 Apr. 2018
The discussion comes two months after the shooting deaths of 17 students and staff members in Parkland, Florida, which reignited the nation's seemingly perpetual gun-rights debate.

— courtney astolfi, cleveland.com, "Watch live as City Club forum addresses gun control and safety in schools," 18 Apr. 2018
And yet inevitably, the vociferous community has regressed in a mere few days to its previous state of near-perpetual outrage.

— nick statt, The Verge, "The never-ending Destiny 2 controversy is a teachable moment for the game industry," 30 Mar. 2018
Dealing with grief sometimes takes a backseat to the perpetual motion.

— erika pesantes, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Stoneman Douglas student David Hogg says gun reform activism is a way to cope with grief," 18 Mar. 2018
As the story opens, 13-year-old Meg Murry (Storm Reid) is in a state of near-perpetual misery.

— christopher orr, The Atlantic, "A Wrinkle in Time: See It With a Kid, or as a Kid," 9 Mar. 2018
The excellent final movement shows the composer using the kind of perpetual-motion rhythms that are so effective in Sunken Garden, a suspenseful opera about demonic possession in the age of virtual reality.

— david patrick stearns, Philly.com, "Philadelphia Orchestra back on the global recording scene with a lush 'Rach 2nd' live from Kimmel," 9 Mar. 2018
The foundation, a partnership between Cárdenas and Anthony, is a rare example of philanthropy in perpetual, concrete action in a very short time.

— leila cobo, Billboard, "Good Deeds You Can Touch: Henry Cardenas Talks About the Tangible Change of His Maestro Cares Foundation With Marc Anthony," 8 Mar. 2018
Trump’s actual position — that Dreamers should be kept in a state of perpetual fear so that Democrats will accept restrictions to legal immigration — is not viable with a mainstream audience.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Position on Dreamers Is Indefensible — and He Knows It," 16 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'perpetual.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of perpetual

Middle English perpetuel, from Anglo-French, from Latin perpetuus uninterrupted, from per- through + petere to go to — more at feather

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

perpetual Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of perpetual

continual, continuous, constant, incessant, perpetual, perennial mean characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence. continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.