perpetual

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

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

Perpetual Groove with Threesound The Georgia band blends Southern rock with funk, jazz and trance electronica. 7 p.m. Tally Ho, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg.

— sarah lane, Washington Post, "Going Out Guide for Northern Virginia, Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2017," 30 Aug. 2017
And, of course, congressional Republicans created perpetual uncertainty about Obamacare’s near-term survival.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Obamacare Is Officially Not Collapsing," 24 Aug. 2017
The town also has a 15-foot wide perpetual easement running along the east side of the 331 Bel Air LLC property to access the parcel.

— allan vought, The Aegis, "Bel Air to sell property along Baltimore Pike," 23 Aug. 2017
Still, this diversity in fashion should not be perceived as trendy, but rather subsist as a permanent and perpetual state in the industry.

— jihane hajby, Allure, "Why We Need to Discuss The Hijab in Western Fashion," 20 Aug. 2017
This is the odd condition of New York—a body subject to what, viewed through a wide lens, looks like perpetual triage.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "New York City’s Final Frontier: Underground," 17 Aug. 2017
Other than that, the world was a perpetual solar eclipse.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Paul Daugherty: End of baseball season can't come soon enough," 14 Aug. 2017
Given this perpetual push-pull between Republican lawmakers who feel solidarity with Trump and a responsibility to the Obamacare-relying voters who keep them in office, the battle to repeal ACA could go on indefinitely.

— malaika jabali, Essence.com, "Uninsured To Increase By 32 Million Under Senate Obamacare Repeal Bill," 21 July 2017
Unfortunately, in this, as in so many other areas, Congress is in perpetual flight from responsibility.

— george will, National Review, "Don’t Hold Your Breath for Congress to Take Back Its Warmaking Powers," 15 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

perpetual Synonyms

Synonyms

ceaseless, continual, continued, continuing, incessant, nonstop, continuous, running, unbroken, unceasing, uninterrupted, unremitting

Antonyms

discontinuous, noncontinuous

Related Words

dateless, deathless, endless, eternal, everlasting, immortal, interminable, permanent, undying, unending; changeless, constant, stable, steady, unchanging, unvarying; durable, enduring, lasting, persistent; imperishable, indestructible

Near Antonyms

intermittent, periodic, periodical, recurrent, recurring; alternate, alternating, cyclic (or cyclical), rhythmic (or rhythmical), seasonal, serial; erratic, fitful, irregular, occasional, spasmodic, sporadic, spotty, unsteady

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.