Definition of persevere
persevered
;persevering
intransitive verb
: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement
Explore M-W
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
-
Overwhelmed by India’s heat, intensity and (in his eyes) strangeness, Wyndham nonetheless perseveres, helped by his very dry sense of humor.
-
Through it all, Chrishauna, whose family eventually found housing last year, persevered, taking honors and advanced placement courses at Chicago Vocational High School.
-
But Humiston persevered, tracing her to a cellar where a local gang kept girls bound for the South American white slave trade.
-
Then there is the sad, yet uplifting, tale of Steve Johnson, who has persevered to reach the third round and earn a plum encounter with world No.
-
Kristy Zamarripa said her husband was the type of person who gave back to the community and persevered in the face of challenges.
-
How the pink box has persevered so long may be about more than just dollars and cents.
-
But if Cochrane and his team persevere, the result might well be a total recall.
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.
Origin and Etymology of persevere
Middle English, from Anglo-French parseverer, from Latin perseverare, from per- through + severus severe
First Known Use: 14th century
PERSEVERE Defined for English Language Learners
persevere
playDefinition of persevere for English Language Learners
-
: to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult
PERSEVERE Defined for Kids
persevere
playDefinition of persevere for Students
persevered
;persevering
: to keep trying to do something in spite of difficulties She persevered in learning to speak French.
Learn More about persevere
-
See words that rhyme with persevere Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for persevere Spanish Central: Translation of persevere Nglish: Translation of persevere for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of persevere for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up persevere? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!