perseverance
noun
per·se·ver·ance
ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-ən(t)s 
: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : the action or condition or an instance of persevering : steadfastness
His perseverance was rewarded: after many rejections, he finally found a job.
The road to the American dream was supposed to be built on perseverance and hard work.—
Ms. Guzman
Ms. GuzmanAaliyah and her artistry live on as a symbol of perseverance.—Julian Kimble
Julian KimbleExamples of perseverance in a Sentence
The great international collectors and curators, once celebrated for their perceptiveness and perseverance, are now regularly deplored as traffickers in, or receivers of, stolen goods.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Review of Books, 9 Feb. 2006
… a cavalcade of black and brown and female faces spinning stories of hardship and triumph through perseverance.
—Michelle Cottle, New Republic, 14 Aug. 2000
… he had no-nonsense coaches with hearts of gold who taught him discipline; he learned perseverance from a father who sent him back out to fight after he took a licking …
—Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 14 Dec. 1998
His perseverance was rewarded: after many rejections, he finally found a job.
Perseverance is required to perfect just about any skill.
Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Review of Books, 9 Feb. 2006
… a cavalcade of black and brown and female faces spinning stories of hardship and triumph through perseverance.
—Michelle Cottle, New Republic, 14 Aug. 2000
… he had no-nonsense coaches with hearts of gold who taught him discipline; he learned perseverance from a father who sent him back out to fight after he took a licking …
—Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 14 Dec. 1998
His perseverance was rewarded: after many rejections, he finally found a job.
Perseverance is required to perfect just about any skill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Randy Colman, president and CEO of Goodman Jewish Family Services, thanked the survivors for being living examples of perseverance and strength.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
Khalid expressed his support of Lauv’s decision to step away and highlighted his perseverance.
—Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2026
Her journey has included complex negotiations and processes, each contributing to a broader understanding of accountability and perseverance.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Her parents, immigrants to the United States from the Philippines, laid the groundwork for her success in school by example of their own perseverance, resilience and hard work.
—Holly Andres, Daily News, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perseverance
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Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
Khalid expressed his support of Lauv’s decision to step away and highlighted his perseverance.
—Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2026
Her journey has included complex negotiations and processes, each contributing to a broader understanding of accountability and perseverance.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Her parents, immigrants to the United States from the Philippines, laid the groundwork for her success in school by example of their own perseverance, resilience and hard work.
—Holly Andres, Daily News, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perseverance
Cite this Entry
“Perseverance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perseverance. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perseverance
noun
per·se·ver·ance
ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-ən(t)s
: the action, state, or an instance of persevering
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