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persist

Intransitive Verb

This word carries a strong sense of stubbornness and endurance. It suggests a refusal to yield when faced with obstacles, creating an image of a steady, unwavering force pushing forward against a resisting wall. It is often used in professional or academic contexts to describe tenacity. When applied to inanimate things, such as symptoms or weather patterns, it takes on a more neutral or negative tone, implying an annoying or stubborn refusal of a problem to go away. It differs from continue in that it specifically emphasizes the presence of a struggle or a barrier.

Meanings

Intransitive Verb
[doing]

To continue firmly in an opinion or a course of action despite difficulty or opposition.

"He persisted in his efforts to learn Japanese despite the complexity."

Intransitive Verb
[something]

To continue to exist or endure over a long period of time.

"The smell of old cigars persisted in the room for days."

Last Updated: May 26, 2026Report an Error