persist

/pərˈsɪst/

/pəˈsɪst/

Other forms: persisted; persists; persisting

When someone persists they keep going or hang on. If you want to finish a marathon, you have to persist and keep running, no matter how many blisters you have.

The great Roman poet Ovid once advised: “Endure and persist, this pain will turn good by and by.” As Ovid’s quote hints at, persistence is often associated with hardship and the reward that comes with not backing down. Synonyms include endure, follow through, and persevere, while antonyms include cease and give up.

Definitions of persist

1. verb

   be persistent, refuse to stop
   “he persisted to call me every night”

   “The child persisted and kept asking questions”

   synonyms: hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere

   types:

   obstinate

   persist stubbornly

   ask for it, ask for trouble

   persist with actions or an attitude despite the probability that it will cause trouble

   plug, plug away

   persist in working hard

   follow, stick to, stick with

   keep to

   type of:

   bear on, carry on, continue, preserve, uphold

   keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
2. verb

   continue to exist
   synonyms: die hard, endure, prevail, run

   run

   occur persistently

   types:

   carry over

   transfer or persist from one stage or sphere of activity to another

   reverberate

   have a long or continuing effect

   type of:

   continue

   exist over a prolonged period of time
3. verb

   stay behind
   synonyms: remain, stay

   types:

   stick

   endure

   linger

   remain present although waning or gradually dying