- showing persistence
- incessantly repeated; unrelenting: your persistent questioning
- (of plant parts) remaining attached to the plant after the normal time of withering
- (of parts normally present only in young stages) present in the adult
- (of a chemical, esp when used as an insecticide) slow to break down; not easily degradableAlso (rare): persistive
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
per•sis•tent /pɚˈsɪstənt/USA pronunciation
adj. lasting for a long time:annoying, persistent coughing.
repeated;
continued:her persistent questions.
per•sist•ent•ly, adv.: She would persistently demand answers where none were possible.See -sist-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- continuing to do something in spite of difficulty, opposition, or criticism:He was persistent and finally finished his project.
continued:her persistent questions.
per•sist•ent
(pər sis′tənt, -zis′-),USA pronunciation adj.
per•sist′ent•ly, adv.
- persisting, esp. in spite of opposition, obstacles, discouragement, etc.;
persevering:a most annoyingly persistent young man. - lasting or enduring tenaciously:the persistent aroma of verbena; a persistent cough.
- constantly repeated;
continued:persistent noise. - Biology
- continuing or permanent.
- having continuity of phylogenetic characteristics.
- Plant Biology[Bot.]remaining attached beyond the usual time, as flowers, flower parts, or leaves.
- Latin persistent- (stem of persistēns), present participle of persistere to persist; see -ent
- 1820–30
- 1. indefatigable, pertinacious, tenacious. See stubborn. 3. steady.
- 3. sporadic.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
persistent /pəˈsɪstənt/ adj
'persistent' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
absenteeism
- aggravate
- ailment
- anxiety disorder
- battered
- clamour
- coax
- dysthymia
- ferret
- gripe
- groan
- grouch
- grouse
- grudge
- hang up
- harass
- harp
- haunting
- henpeck
- henpecked
- high-pressure
- hull
- hydra
- importunate
- importune
- insistent
- lurking
- mudpuppy
- neurosis
- obsession
- obsessive
- obsessive-compulsive disorder
- obstinate
- persistent depressive disorder
- persistent organic pollutant
- persistent vegetative state
- pertinacious
- pluvial
- POP
- pressing
- pump
- PVS
- sedulous
- sexual harassment
- siege
- stayer
- stubborn
- tenacious
- urgent
- agitation