perpetuate
verb
per·pet·u·ate
pər-ˈpe-chə-ˌwāt 
perpetuated; perpetuating
: to make perpetual or cause to last indefinitely
perpetuate the species
Examples of perpetuate in a Sentence
He perpetuates the myth that his house is haunted.
Fears about an epidemic are being perpetuated by the media.
Recent Examples on the Web
The latter myth was perpetuated for centuries and was not firmly debunked until the 17th century.
—
Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
While Hamas’ useful idiots here in the United States and elsewhere have parroted anti-Israel propaganda while ignoring the crimes of Hamas, the Palestinian people have suffered the consequences of Hamas’ insistence on perpetuating the war.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
Since 9/11, we’ve been depicted as terrorists, the image perpetuated by shows like 24 and Homeland.
—Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Even if your beat wasn’t geopolitics or the economic structure behind deep-sea tourism, you were supposed to drop everything and help perpetuate the flood, or find a way to work it into your coverage, however contrived.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetuate
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Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
While Hamas’ useful idiots here in the United States and elsewhere have parroted anti-Israel propaganda while ignoring the crimes of Hamas, the Palestinian people have suffered the consequences of Hamas’ insistence on perpetuating the war.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
Since 9/11, we’ve been depicted as terrorists, the image perpetuated by shows like 24 and Homeland.
—Deena Elgenaidi, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Even if your beat wasn’t geopolitics or the economic structure behind deep-sea tourism, you were supposed to drop everything and help perpetuate the flood, or find a way to work it into your coverage, however contrived.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpetuate
Cite this Entry
“Perpetuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perpetuate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perpetuate
verb
per·pet·u·ate
pər-ˈpech-ə-ˌwāt
perpetuated; perpetuating
: to make perpetual or cause to last indefinitely
Legal Definition
perpetuate
transitive verb
per·pet·u·ate
pər-ˈpe-chə-ˌwāt
perpetuated; perpetuating
: to preserve or make available (testimony) for later use at a trial by means of deposition especially when the evidence so gathered would be otherwise unavailable or lost
Note: Courts will not allow the perpetuation of testimony at a pretrial proceeding if it appears to be an attempt to fish for useful material.
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