persist

verb

per·sist | \ pər-ˈsist

, -ˈzist

persisted; persisting; persists

Definition of persist

intransitive verb

1 : to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning

2 obsolete : to remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position

3 : to be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (such as a question or an opinion)

4 : to continue to exist especially past a usual, expected, or normal time

Other Words from persist Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about persist

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for persist

continue, last, endure, abide, persist mean to exist over a period of time or indefinitely. continue applies to a process going on without ending. the search for peace will continue last, especially when unqualified, may stress existing beyond what is normal or expected. buy shoes that will last endure adds an implication of resisting destructive forces or agencies. in spite of everything, her faith endured abide implies stable and constant existing especially as opposed to mutability. a love that abides through 40 years of marriage persist suggests outlasting the normal or appointed time and often connotes obstinacy or doggedness. the sense of guilt persisted

Examples of persist in a Sentence

She had turned him down for a date before, but he persisted and asked her again. The reporter persisted with his questioning. If you persist with this behavior, you will be punished. Must you persist in making that noise? If the pain persists, see a doctor. Doubts about the defendant's story have persisted for some time now. Rumors persist that they are dating.

Recent Examples on the Web

So, even if the temporary cause (like an ear infection or brief exposure to a loud sound) goes away, the tinnitus can persist indefinitely. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "What Is Tinnitus?," 30 Jan. 2019 The attitude that only NASA knows how to manage human spaceflight persists. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "The 4 Things That Could Hobble the Commercial Space Revolution," 14 Jan. 2019 But today's appearance comes at a particularly interesting time as rumors of a rift between the foursome persist—including that there'sdrama between the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex. — Sally Holmes, Marie Claire, "Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Squash Feud Rumors on Christmas Day," 25 Dec. 2018 This odor typically persists for several months after the manufacture of a new vehicle. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "Chinese customers hate “new car smell,” so Ford files a patent to bake it out," 20 Nov. 2018 But Kat persisted, for months, inviting me to fundraisers and womxn's caucus meetings, essentially taking on the role of being my professional hype girl. — Nika Lomazzo, Teen Vogue, "What It's Like to Help Your Best Friend Win an Election," 12 Nov. 2018 Jack persists though, and the doctor ends up giving him a way to trick the medical examination to be enlisted. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "Last Night's Episode of 'This Is Us' Revealed an Even More Heartbreaking Detail About Jack's Death," 17 Oct. 2018 With noticeable results, many CPAP users, even those like Blumstein with a love-hate relationship with their devices, persist. — Washington Post, "New ways to conquer sleep apnea compete for place in bedroom," 12 July 2018 But the electoral college persisted, and with it a second formal bias towards low-population states, though not as marked as the one in the Senate. — The Economist, "America’s electoral system gives the Republicans advantages over Democrats," 12 July 2018

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