endurance
en-DURE-unss
/ɪnˈdjʊərəns/
The ability to withstand hardship or adversity; the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort.
In racing, it refers to long-distance races (like 24 hours) where reliability is as important as speed.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'indurare,' meaning to make hard. It shares the root 'durus' with 'durable' and 'during.'
Word relationships
- stamina: Stamina is the energy to keep going; endurance is the ability to withstand the stress.
- fortitude: Fortitude is mental strength; endurance can be both mental and physical.
- fragility: The quality of being easily broken or damaged.
Commonly confused with
- persistence: Persistence is continuing despite opposition; endurance is continuing despite exhaustion.
Word family
- endure (verb): To suffer patiently; to remain in existence.
- enduring (adjective): Lasting over a long period.
Collocations
- endurance race
- test of endurance
- physical endurance
Example sentences
- "The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of man and machine's endurance." Race description
- "Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory." Philosophical quote (William Barclay)
Memory hook
Endurance is for things that are 'Durable'. Hard and lasting.
When not to use
Don't use it for a short sprint race.
Fun facts
- Endurance racing drivers often lose several pounds of body weight during a single race due to heat and physical exertion.
Explore more words
endure, perseverance, fortitude, hardship, stoic, long-suffering
Also appears in
- Travel & Culture → Adventure Sports & Recreation
- Health Sciences → Sedentary Lifestyles & Exercise
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Track & Field Athletics
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Water & Aquatic Sports
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Winter & Ice Sports
- Sports, Athletics & Recreation → Racket & Court Sports
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