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Dictionary Entry

persistent

Part of SpeechadjectivePronunciation/pəˈsɪstənt/Word FrequencyCommon (4.89)Curriculum FrequencyLess common (1)

Obstinately refusing to give up or let go.

In a Sentence

She has had a persistent cough for weeks.

Published Usage Examples

 The classification - intermittent or persistent - leads us to the proper management and treatment of asthma  The basics: intermittent asthma = bronchodilators as needed persistent asthma = daily anti - inflammatory + bronchodilators as needed

Ms. Massie called the city's 10-year time frame "laughable" because it is too slow to fix what she described as a persistent public-health threat.

This entry also appears in ReadingWillow Year 12 word lists, so students can move between the dictionary and year-level study sets.

Origin

From Latin 'persistent-', past participle of 'persistere' meaning 'to continue steadfastly'.

Common Phrases

. persistentefforts persistenteffort persistentpain persistentvegetative persistentproblems persistent

Poetry examples for persistent

Excerpts from the ReadingWillow English Library collection.

Poetry examples are still being gathered for this entry. They will appear here once matching poems are available in the library.