persist
To continue firmly in an opinion or a course of action despite difficulty, opposition, or failure. It also refers to a state or condition that continues to exist or endure over a prolonged period.
Examples
3 of 5If the cough persists for more than a week, you should consult a physician.
If the cough continues for more than a week, you should consult a physician.
The committee decided to persist with the current strategy despite the initial setbacks.
The committee decided to continue with the current strategy despite the initial setbacks.
I don't know why you persist in wearing those old, beat-up sneakers.
I don't know why you keep wearing those old, beat-up sneakers.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Per-Sister': A sister who 'persists' by constantly asking to borrow your clothes through the door.
Quick Quiz
If the rain _____, the outdoor concert will have to be moved inside.
Correct!
The correct answer is: persists
Examples
If the cough persists for more than a week, you should consult a physician.
everydayIf the cough continues for more than a week, you should consult a physician.
The committee decided to persist with the current strategy despite the initial setbacks.
formalThe committee decided to continue with the current strategy despite the initial setbacks.
I don't know why you persist in wearing those old, beat-up sneakers.
informalI don't know why you keep wearing those old, beat-up sneakers.
Research indicates that certain social inequalities persist even in highly developed economies.
academicResearch indicates that certain social inequalities continue to exist even in highly developed economies.
We must persist in our marketing efforts to capture a larger share of the market.
businessWe must continue our marketing efforts to capture a larger share of the market.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
persist in the face of
to continue despite a specific challenge
stubbornly persist
to refuse to stop in an annoying or firm way
persist to the end
to continue until the very conclusion
Often Confused With
Insist means to demand something forcefully, while persist means to continue an action or state over time.
Persevere almost always has a positive connotation (working hard toward a goal), whereas persist can be used for negative things like a disease or an annoying habit.
Usage Notes
When used for people, it often takes the preposition 'in' followed by a gerund (persist in lying). When used for things like weather or symptoms, it is usually used without an object.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'persist to do' (infinitive), but the correct pattern is 'persist in doing' (gerund).
Memory Tip
Think of 'Per-Sister': A sister who 'persists' by constantly asking to borrow your clothes through the door.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'persistere', meaning 'to continue steadfastly,' which combines 'per' (throughly) and 'sistere' (to stand).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western cultures, 'persistence' is highly valued as a key personality trait for professional and personal success, often associated with the 'American Dream'.
Quick Quiz
If the rain _____, the outdoor concert will have to be moved inside.
Correct!
The correct answer is: persists
Related Grammar Rules
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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