French word

persister

Pronunciation

IPA/pɛʁsiste/

Meaning

  • verbpersist

Example

La douleur persiste malgré le traitement.

The pain persists despite the treatment.

Illustration for persister (persist)

More examples

Il persiste à croire que c'est vrai.

He persists in believing that it is true.

Core concept

A trace that remains visible as pressure, change, or attempts to remove it continue.

Common phrases

  • persister à

    persist in ___ing

  • persister dans son erreur

    persist in his error

Similar words

continuer: To continue without interruption.
durer: To last for a certain period of time.
rester: To remain in a place or state.
persévérer: To keep going despite difficulties.

Definition in French

Se maintenir dans le temps; ne pas disparaître malgré des tentatives ou le changement.

Word origin

French persister comes from Latin persistĕre, formed with per- meaning 'thoroughly' and sistere meaning 'to stand'.

Usage tips

  • As an intransitive verb, persister takes à before an infinitive and dans before a noun phrase, as in persister à nier and persister dans son erreur.

Other meanings

  • remainverb

Opposites

Related words

  • persistancepersistencenoun
  • persistantpersistentadjective

Word lists with this word