persevere

verb

per·​se·​vere ˌpər-sə-ˈvir How to pronounce persevere (audio)
persevered; persevering

intransitive verb

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

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.

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 on the Web John Nolan has persevered through numerous personal and professional changes over the years. Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024 But the Kings persevered, emerging with two points that kept them close to Edmonton and ahead of the teams chasing them in the West wild-card scramble. Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Both are long standing art forms that elevate hand work, and which have managed to persevere in the face of the industrialization of both ready-to-wear and photography. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2024 In these images, Torres unearths the ridiculousness of what’s happening to Ale, emphasizing how resilience doesn’t have to only mean persevering through hardship. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024 Many are holding out hope that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will persevere against longshot odds and beat Trump. USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 In other words, religious beliefs and spirituality can be a source of resilience when people need to persevere and resist in the face of injustice. Alexia Salvatierra, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2024 Like her character, Diana Nyad, Bening is being positioned as an endurance artist, someone who has persevered through decades of show business. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 From lessons on empathy, to reflections on postpartum sadness and depression, Real Vibes Only is an honest read on how to persevere through challenging times in life, motivate oneself through thick and thin, and find joy in the seemingly mundane. Sacramento Bee, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'persevere.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English perseveren, borrowed from Anglo-French parseverer, perseverer "to last, endure, persist in spite of opposition," borrowed from Latin persevērāre "to persist in a course of action or an attitude in spite of opposition, keep on, (of a condition) continue, last," from per- per- + -sevērāre, verbal derivative of sevērus "stern, austere, severe"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of persevere was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near persevere

Cite this Entry

“Persevere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persevere. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

persevere

verb
per·​se·​vere ˌpər-sə-ˈvi(ə)r How to pronounce persevere (audio)
persevered; persevering
: to keep at something in spite of difficulties, opposition, or discouragement

More from Merriam-Webster on persevere

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