perpetual

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

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

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Examples: perpetual in a Sentence

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

For a city in perpetual flux, San Francisco consistently knows how to throw a party.

— emma silvers, San Francisco Chronicle, "Your guide to the best bars to hit on Pride weekend," 14 June 2018
The perpetual ethics problems of the Environmental Protection Agency chief have moved some conservatives who were firmly in his camp to reconsider.

— evan halper, latimes.com, "Longtime Scott Pruitt ally Sen. James Inhofe says it may be time for EPA chief to 'leave that job'," 14 June 2018
After four down years, the Braves are back and ready to reprise their role of perpetual Mets tormentor, a position Atlanta held during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

— tyler kepner, New York Times, "‘Nobody’s Happy’ After the Mets Waste Another Great Jacob deGrom Start," 13 June 2018
But beneath the surface, there is a perpetual simmering resentment of cultural, economic, and political domination by the Colossus to the South, the not-so-civil United States.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Insults Are Bringing Out Canada’s Inner Fiery Nationalism," 12 June 2018
Throughout the day the perpetual line at Bertha’s becomes a crossroads for familiar faces, friends, family, and neighbors—many of whom have been coming to Bertha’s for years—to exchange greetings, news, condolences, and hugs.

— chase quinn, Bon Appetit, "Inside the Lunch Rush at Bertha’s Kitchen, a Soul Food Institution," 6 June 2018
To start with, Tuesday's event is all but certain to cause days of controversy that could help his perpetual efforts to cement his political foundation by playing into cultural, societal and racial questions that motivate his core voters.

— stephen collinson, CNN, "Trump to NFL players: Patriotism is my way or the highway," 5 June 2018
Let a perpetual light shine upon firefighter Juan Bucio.

— tony briscoe, chicagotribune.com, "First responders from around state, country attend firefighter's funeral: 'We all know we have each other’s backs'," 4 June 2018
That Florence met Edward at a gathering for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament doesn’t count as a selling point for her mom who has no problem living in a perpetual state of cold war with both Russia and her daughter.

— cary darling, Houston Chronicle, "Review: ‘On Chesil Beach’ floats on strong performances," 31 May 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

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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.