English Explanatory Dictionary

persevere

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To persist steadfastly in pursuit of an undertaking, task, journey, or goal, even if hindered by distraction, difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement.
  2. To stay constant; to continue in a certain state; to remain.

Pronunciation

/ˌpɜːsəˈvɪə/ /ˌpɝ.səˈviɹ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-persevere.wav

Word forms

persevere perseveres persevering persevered perservere persever

Etymology

From Middle English perseveren, from Old French perseverer, from Latin persevērāre (“to continue steadfastly, persist, persevere”), from perseverus (“very strict or earnest”), from per (“through, by the means of”) + severus (“strict, earnest”). Doublet of perseverate.

Synonyms

abide astand bear up carry on continue endure follow up hang in there hold on hold out hold the line hold up keep a stiff upper lip keep trying keep up persevere persist plod plug plug away resist soldier on stay stay the course stay the distance stick it out stick to stick by one's guns stick to one's guns stick with stick with it

Antonyms

cease desist give up quit stop surrender yield

Related words

perseverance perseverant
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
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