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Glite Dictionary
to persist in

to persist in

20 4.1
To keep doing something even when it is difficult or people disagree
  • phrasal verb
  • /pərˈsɪst ɪn/
translation icon : insistir en
  • Why do you persist in doing the opposite of what you are told?
  • students persist in supporting
  • persist in teaching
  • persist in music

And he just kept on persisting in order to stop it.

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Examples

  • He decided to persist in his studies even though many of his friends dropped out.

  • So much though, that despite endless setbacks, I have tirelessly persisted in trying to get it off the ground.

    The Late Late Show with James Corden

  • And the name of the game, of course, is to persist in our activities until we start winning.

  • If you persist in this, everyone will hate you.

    Walker (1987)

  • If you persist in this young lady, then I'm afraid you will just have to find yourself another school.

    Test Tube Teens from the Year 2000 (1994)

  • But if you persist in this search you simply endanger her position and yours.

    Hitler's Children (1943)

  • If you persist in this stubborn attitude, I must resort to stronger measures.

    The Secret Invasion (1964)

  • But New Guinea men, like the Ache, persist in hunting even though yields are very low.

    Academic text (1994)

  • More seriously, the administration persisted in selling arms to Taiwan in excess of Beijing's expectations.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Impediments to U.S. relations with Africa are likely to persist in the post-Cold War period.

    Academic text (1992)

Synonyms

to keep
vsto persist in
∞ 1.0

To continue doing something or stay in the same state

is the determined continuing action rather than simply retaining a state or possession
to continue
vsto persist in
∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

is the determined way of continuing that adds resistance to difficulty
to maintain
vsto persist in
931 3.1

Keep an activity, quality, or schedule going over time

is the personal determined continuing action rather than an external technical upkeep
to keep up
vsto persist in
507 2.8

To continue at the same speed or level as others

is the determined continuing action that focuses on persistence despite opposition
to keep going
vsto persist in
357 1.6

To continue doing something without stopping

is the determined continuation that often includes resisting opposition
to stick to
vsto persist in
343 3.0

Keep doing something without changing it, for example following a plan

is the determined continuing action even when not tied to a rule or plan
to stick with
vsto persist in
341 3.6

Keep doing or supporting something even when it is difficult

is the determined action that focuses on continuing work rather than personal support
to carry on
vsto persist in
253 2.7

To continue doing something after an interruption or when it is difficult

is the determined continuing action even when there was no earlier interruption
to hold on
vsto persist in
173 3.3

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

is the broader continuing action rather than narrowly immediate effort
to hang in
vsto persist in
  • Informal
167 3.6

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

is the determined continuation of action rather than personal endurance alone
to hold out
vsto persist in
139 3.7

To refuse to give up until you get what you want

is the steady long-term continuation rather than short-term resistance
to sustain
vsto persist in
102 4.0

To keep something going for a long time

is the personal determined continuing action rather than prolonging or preserving a state
to keep it up
vsto persist in
87 3.0

Continue doing something well with the same effort

is the determined continuing action rather than the encouraging praise sense
to persist
vsto persist in
62 3.7

To keep doing something or keep holding a belief despite difficulty

is used with a following preposition and object
to hang on
vsto persist in
  • Informal
46 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

is the steady determined continuation rather than the act of refusing to stop
to push through
vsto persist in
39 3.6

To keep going despite problems until you finish

is the general determined continuing action without implying forceful overcoming
to press on
vsto persist in
26 3.9

To keep going with a task even when it is hard

is the determined ongoing action rather than a steady work pace
to hold to
vsto persist in
25 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

is the determined continuing action rather than moral commitment or loyalty
to persevere
vsto persist in
22 5.1

Keep trying to do something even when it is hard

is about continuing an action steadily rather than goal focus
to stick to the plan
vsto persist in
21 3.0

Continue doing what everyone agreed without changing it

is the determined continuing action that can apply beyond agreed plans
to plow ahead
vsto persist in
  • US
3 4.7

Continue doing something even when there are problems

is the steady determined continuation rather than forceful forward motion
to keep on pushing through
vsto persist in
  • Informal
5.1

To continue to try hard even when things are difficult

is the steady continuing action rather than intense effort to overcome adversity
to contin
vsto persist in
  • Archaic
9.9

To keep doing something without stopping

is the modern phrasal expression used more commonly today

Antonyms

to give up
∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

to abandon
773 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

How Determined

to persist in
20 4.1
to persevere
22 5.1
to press on
26 3.9
to try
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

persist in infinitive
persisted in past
persisted in past participle
persisting in present participle
persists in third person singular

Morphology

persist + in

The core meaning comes directly from 'persist' (to continue firmly) and the preposition 'in' simply links the verb to the activity or object, so there is no idiomatic shift. This verb+preposition pattern is cross-linguistically common (e.g., Spanish 'persistir en'), making the combination predictable for learners who know both words.

Etymology

The verb persist in paints a picture of a small plant pushing up through a crack, growing in a hard place even when people try to stop it. So, to persist in something means to 'keep going' with it despite problems or opposition.