continuous

adjective

con·​tin·​u·​ous kən-ˈtin-yü-əs 

1

: marked by uninterrupted extension in space, time, or sequence

The batteries provide enough power for up to five hours of continuous use.

2

of a function : having the property that the absolute value of the numerical difference between the value at a given point and the value at any point in a neighborhood of the given point can be made as close to zero as desired by choosing the neighborhood small enough

continuousness noun

Synonyms of continuous

• continual
• continued
• continuing
• nonstop
• incessant
• uninterrupted

Choose the Right Synonym for continuous

continual, continuous, constant, incessant, perpetual, perennial mean characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence.

continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.

continual showers the whole weekend

continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension.

football's oldest continuous rivalry

constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence.

lived in constant pain

incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity.

annoyed by the incessant quarreling

perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration.

a land of perpetual snowfall

perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal.

a perennial source of controversy

Examples of continuous in a Sentence

The album is divided into different tracks, but it is really one continuous song.

a continuous line of traffic

The batteries provide enough power for up to five hours of continuous use.

The phrases “am seeing,” “had been seeing,” and “is being seen” are all in continuous tenses.

Recent Examples on the Web

From its beginnings, Miami has been shaped by a continuous wave of newcomers, political exiles, migrants fleeing economic crises, people feeding devastation after hurricanes, or seeking new opportunities, even from other parts of the country. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Dec. 2025

But continuous warmer temperatures and drought — conditions made more likely by climate change — have sapped otherwise healthy trees’ defenses to the beetles. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025

Each pit is roughly the size of a small storage cavity, and while the band appears continuous when sighted from a distance, closer inspection reveals that it is broken into sections, separated by gaps that allow foot traffic across the mountain. —New Atlas, 21 Dec. 2025

These characteristics are essential for reliable, continuous operation in industrial electrolysis environments, and the materials have already been scaled to the sizes targeted in this project phase. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin continuus (from continēre "to hold together, retain, restrain, have as contents" + -uus, deverbal adjective suffix) + -ous — more at contain

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing continuous

• continuous positive airway pressure

Rhymes for continuous

• discontinuous
• semicontinuous

Kids Definition

continuous

adjective

con·​tin·​u·​ous kən-ˈtin-yə-wəs 

: continuing without a stop

continuously adverb

continuousness noun

Medical Definition

continuous

adjective

con·​tin·​u·​ous kən-ˈtin-yə-wəs 

: marked by uninterrupted extension in space, time, or sequence : continuing without intermission or recurring regularly after minute interruptions

continuous vitamin injections

continuously adverb