perseverance

UK: /ˌpɜː^rsɪˈvɪərəns/ US: (pûr′sə vēr′əns)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

per•se•ver•ance  (pûr′sə vēr′əns), n. 

1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
2. Religion [Theol.] continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

• Latin persevērantia. See persevere, -ance
• Middle French perseverance
• Middle English perseveraunce 1300–50

per′se•ver′ant, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. doggedness, steadfastness.
  Perseverance, persistence, tenacity, pertinacity imply resolute and unyielding holding on in following a course of action.
  Perseverance commonly suggests activity maintained in spite of difficulties or steadfast and long-continued application:
  Endurance and perseverance combined to win in the end.
  It is regularly used in a favorable sense.
  Persistence, which may be used in either a favorable or an unfavorable sense, implies unremitting (and sometimes annoying) perseverance:
  persistence in a belief; persistence in talking when others wish to study.
  Tenacity, with the original meaning of adhesiveness, as of glue, is a dogged and determined holding on. Whether used literally or figuratively it has favorable implications:
  a bulldog quality of tenacity; the tenacity of one's memory.
  Pertinacity, unlike its related word, is used chiefly in an unfavorable sense, that of overinsistent tenacity:
  the pertinacity of the social climber.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

perseverance / ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns/ noun

1. continued steady belief or efforts, withstanding discouragement or difficulty; persistence
2. persistence in remaining in a state of grace until death

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

per•se•vere /ˌpɜrsəˈvɪr/   v. [no object] , -vered, -ver•ing. 

1. to continue to pursue something in spite of obstacles, problems, or opposition:
   managed to persevere and finish her degree.

per•se•ver•ance, n. 

[uncountable] her perseverance in finishing her degree.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

per•se•vere  (pûr′sə vēr′), v., -vered, -ver•ing. 
v.i. 

1. to persist in anything undertaken;
   maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement;
   continue steadfastly.
2. to persist in speech, interrogation, argument, etc.;
   insist.

v.t. 

3. to bolster, sustain, or uphold:
   unflagging faith that had persevered him.

• Latin persevērāre to persist, derivative of persevērus very strict. See per-, severe
• Middle French perseverer
• Middle English perseveren 1325–75

Synonyms

• 1. See continue.