Definition of perpetual
1a : continuing forever : everlasting perpetual motionb (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
perpetually
adverbFrom the M-W Editors
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
-
The perpetual interaction with the audience requires an adept ability of stand-up improvisation, in which Hebert maintains her character without turning to caricature.
-
Critics on social media, meanwhile, questioned whether British Airways deserved to claim itself as the U.K.’s flag carrier after the perpetual cutbacks.
-
James cannot be both the specific stopper the Cavs need to contain Durant and the broad catch-all necessary to disrupt Curry and the Warriors’ perpetual motion.
-
The state attorney general said Arthur used perpetual litigation to avoid his sentence for years.
-
The perpetual reworking of the stone balbis is one indication of how seriously the Greeks took these athletic events.
-
The introduction was a dangerous one for a man on a perpetual deadline, what with a pool table and cold beer serving as a constant threat to productivity.
-
What seems much more likely is that the state of perpetual limbo — one that favors Israel — will continue indefinitely.
-
Among the titles on display will be Max Payne and Duke Nukem Forever, two games that have been in near-perpetual development.
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
First Known Use: 14th century
Synonym Discussion of perpetual
PERPETUAL Defined for English Language Learners
perpetual
playDefinition of perpetual for English Language Learners
-
: continuing forever or for a very long time without stopping
-
: happening all the time or very often
PERPETUAL Defined for Kids
Learn More about perpetual
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for perpetual Spanish Central: Translation of perpetual Nglish: Translation of perpetual for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of perpetual for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up perpetual? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!