persist
pur-SIST
/pəˈsɪst/
To continue firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
Can be positive (perseverance) or negative (stubbornness).
The story behind the word. From Latin 'persistere', meaning 'to stand through to the end'. It implies standing your ground while everything else tries to knock you down.
Word relationships
- persevere: Persevere is almost always positive; persist can describe a nuisance or an annoying habit.
- desist: Desist means to stop doing something, often due to a request or order.
Commonly confused with
- insist: Insist means to demand something; persist means to keep doing something.
Word family
- persistence (noun): Firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action.
- persistent (adjective): Continuing firmly or obstinately.
Collocations
- persist in
- persist with
- problems persist
Example sentences
- "If the symptoms persist for more than three days, you should consult a doctor." Medical advice regarding symptoms.
Memory hook
Persist = Per (through) + Sist (stand). You stand through the storm. Stand through it.
When not to use
Don't use it for things that continue naturally without effort; it requires a sense of 'pushing through'.
Fun facts
- In computer science, 'persistent data' is data that survives after the process that created it has ended.
Explore more words
persistent, Pertinacious, perseverance, Obstinate, Tenacious, tenacity
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