persist

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /pɚˈsɪst/ UK /pəˈsɪst/ See IPA manual

Freq #17524

Meanings

1

verb
To keep trying to do something despite difficulty or opposition.

She persisted with her studies even after failing twice.
2

verb
To continue to exist or happen.

If the symptoms persist, you should see a doctor.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with persist

persist in Prepositional verb B2

to continue doing something despite difficulty or opposition

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to keep trying to do... persevere

2 verb · to continue to exist or... last continue

More abide abyastandendure lie live prevail remain stick

Opposites

break fail yield

Word family

Forms persistedpersistingpersists

Derived forms hyperpersistpersistabilitypersistablepersistinglypersistivepersistorrepersistunpersist

Related forms persevere persistence persistency persistent

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

persist in
to continue doing something despite difficulty or opposition

Verb + preposition/particle

Proverbs (1)

See all

Whatever you resist will persist

Simplified etymology

Persist entered English in the mid-16th century from Latin persistere. The Latin verb combines per- “through, steadfastly” with sistere “to stand,” giving the underlying sense of standing firm or refusing to be moved from a course.

Etymology

From Middle French persister (Modern French persister), from Latin persistere, from per- + sistere (“to stand”).

persister Middle French persistō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# persist

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /pɚˈsɪst/
**IPA (UK):** /pəˈsɪst/
**Frequency rank:** 17524

## Meanings
1. To keep trying to do something despite difficulty or opposition.
2. To continue to exist or happen.

## Examples
- She persisted with her studies even after failing twice.
- If the symptoms persist, you should see a doctor.

## Synonyms
- abide
- aby
- astand
- endure
- lie
- live
- prevail
- remain
- stick

## Antonyms
- break
- fail
- yield

## Derived Forms
- hyperpersist
- persistability
- persistable
- persistingly
- persistive
- persistor
- repersist
- unpersist

## Related Forms
- persevere
- persistence
- persistency
- persistent

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: persister
- Root: persistō

## Etymology
From Middle French persister (Modern French persister), from Latin persistere, from per- + sistere (“to stand”).

## AI Etymology
Persist comes from Middle French persister (Modern French persister), from Latin persistere, from per- + sistere (“to stand”). The historical chain includes persister (Middle French), persistō (Latin). In present-day English it covers to keep trying to do something despite difficulty or opposition and to continue to exist or happen. The wider family includes derived forms such as hyperpersist, persistability, persistable, persistingly, persistive and related forms such as persevere, persistence, persistency, persistent.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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