persevere

play

verb per·se·vere \ ˌpər-sə-ˈvir \

Definition of persevere

persevered; persevering

intransitive verb

:to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement

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perseveringly

play \ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-iŋ-lē\ adverb

See persevere defined for English-language learners

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Examples of persevere in a Sentence

She persevered in her studies and graduated near the top of her class.
Even though he was tired, he persevered and finished the race.

Recent Examples of persevere from the Web

Earth, Wind & Fire has persevered despite the absence of founder Maurice White.

— alan sculley, Detroit Free Press, "Earth, Wind & Fire pairs with Chic for night of dance-floor R&B at DTE," 16 Aug. 2017
Grabowski means people who come from a working-class, immigrant background, people who work hard and have nothing handed to them, people who have struggled against discrimination, people who are honest and tough, people who persevere and prevail . .

— david isaacson, Chicago Reader, "Hard hat, lunch pail: The myth of toughness in Chicago sports," 15 Aug. 2017
With 17 years in the business, KM persevered, getting a break with Global Force Wrestling, under the direction of Jeff Jarrett.

— jim varsallone, miamiherald, "KM interview, GFW Impact Wrestling in Orlando in August," 14 Aug. 2017
Still, like the proverbial tree that grew in Brooklyn, Bow persevered.

— Vogue, "Remembering the Original It Girl, Clara Bow, on Her Birthday," 29 July 2017
Despite the headaches, Indianapolis chefs and restaurateurs persevere.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "Here's why Indianapolis restaurants are closing," 13 July 2017
For many years, Earth, Wind & Fire has persevered despite the absence of founder Maurice White.

— sacbee, "Earth, Wind & Fire, Chic bring R&B to Golden One Center," 6 July 2017
But spam persevered and became a household name in the post-World War II era thanks to its long shelf life and affordability.

— patrick cooley, cleveland.com, "Spam: A brief history of the meat product as it turns 80," 4 July 2017
Finding a film with all those properties proved to be difficult, but Gerken persevered.

— jan engoren, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Boynton woman's invention keep birthday cakes germ-free," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'persevere.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The early settlers of the New World persevered in the face of constant hardship and danger. The Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation lost half their number in the first winter to disease and hunger, but their perseverance paid off, and within five years their community was healthy and self-sufficient. Perhaps more remarkable are all the solitary inventors who have persevered in pursuing their visions for years, lacking any financial support and laughed at by the public.