persevere

verb

per·​se·​vere ˌpər-sə-ˈvir 

persevered; persevering

intransitive verb

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

perseveringly

ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-iŋ-lē 

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.

Synonyms

• carry on
• persist

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

Throughout her life, the designer was disciplined and persevered. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 18 Oct. 2024

But there is a human question too, a reality that a man has to persevere when nature turns harsh and the desperate arrive. —Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024

Children can use their phones as authenticators, and once verified, a phone acts as an individual's key, which perseveres with them across the internet. —Rodger Desai, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024

And, finally, the U.S. needs to renew and persevere in a lunar exploration program closer to the original Artemis vision—an endeavor that combines and aligns robotic and crewed programs in a consistent strategic fashion. —Thomas Zurbuchen, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024

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

Kids Definition

persevere

verb

per·​se·​vere ˌpər-sə-ˈvi(ə)r 

persevered; persevering

: to keep at something in spite of difficulties, opposition, or discouragement