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continuous

continuous

141 3.7
Without a break or gap, for example in a curve
  • adjective
  • /kənˈtɪn.ju.əs/
translation icon : continuo
  • Participants uniformly reported this task as difficult, but all were able to produce continuous speech during the recording.
  • continuous improvement
  • continuous variable
  • continuous coverage

What you get is a continuous low rumble.

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Examples

  • Our daily lives depend on the continuous and safe delivery of technological services and products.

    Academic text (2011)
  • This is a nice clean continuous function here on the bottom.

  • Our life has been one continuous travel day for a month now.

  • The wall at that end of the room has a continuous run of YA books.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Have a strong, continuous line, keep the pen on the paper.

  • The mother may suffer from a chronic condition that requires continuous medication.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The unchangeable and continuous faith of the Church in history points to its living relationship with God.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Yesterday I hadn't even noticed how continuous the descent was; now every step up spoke to me.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • While portable, hand-sized machines exist, they cannot be used for continuous monitoring of moving patients.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The marathon runner maintained a continuous pace, never stopping for a break.

Synonyms

constant
vscontinuous
198 2.5

Happens all the time without stopping

indicates absence of break but not necessarily an unchanging level
nonstop
vscontinuous
42 1.3

Continuing without any stops or pauses

applies also to space and mathematical contexts, not limited to time
incessant
vscontinuous
30 6.3

Happening all the time without stopping

refers to no break but does not insist on seeming endlessness
uninterrupted
vscontinuous
28 4.2

Continuing without stopping or being disturbed

refers equally to the same no break cases, including functions and space
sustained
vscontinuous
22 3.9

Lasting a long time without stopping or getting weaker

means no interruption but does not imply maintained strength over time
unbroken
vscontinuous
10 3.9

Without stopping in time or space

is also used for mathematical curves and general no break situations
ceaseless
vscontinuous
9 4.9

Not stopping or pausing for a long time

means absence of breaks but not the stronger idea of forever
unceasing
vscontinuous
1 6.0

Continuing without stopping

denotes a long no break duration without claiming absolute foreverness
unintermitted
vscontinuous
  • Archaic
9.6

Happening without stopping

applies also to space and mathematical functions, not only duration
continued
vscontinuous
1.3

Happening without stopping for a period of time

emphasizes strict absence of any interruption across time or space
unpunctuated
vscontinuous
6.0

Expressed without pauses or breaks

is broader and applies beyond expression to space and functions
continuing
vscontinuous
2.8

Happening over a long time and not finished

emphasizes strict lack of any break rather than simple persistence

Antonyms

Having breaks or gaps, for example a line that stops and starts

Happening with short pauses that stop and start again

Compounds

1 4.5

A way of often putting new code into a shared place and testing it automatically

An idea that new matter is created so the universe keeps the same density as it expands

8.5

Keeping a radio on all the time to listen for important messages

continuous tense
  • Specialized
3.1

A verb form for actions happening now or around a time

4.7

A verb tense using has or have been plus -ing for actions started in the past and still continuing

How Continuous

seamless
30 4.9
unbroken
10 3.9
continuous
141 3.7
ongoing
401 3.5
periodic
47 3.9
intermittent
35 6.5

Surface Forms

continuous positive

Morphology

continuous = continue (transparent) = continue + ous

The adjective is directly formed by adding the productive suffix '-ous' to 'continue' (orthographic -e deletion only), so the meaning 'without interruption' follows straightforwardly.

Etymology

Continuous comes from Latin parts con- ('together') and tenere ('to hold') and is the same root as continue, so it originally meant things 'held together' with no break. That's why continuous now means 'without interruption'.