perseverance

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
/ˌpɜːrsəˈvɪrəns/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
Steady effort through difficulty, with a specialized Christian sense of remaining in faith or grace to the end.

Examples

  • The theologian distinguished daily perseverance from the final perseverance of believers.
  • The phrase perseverance of the saints appears often in Reformed theology.
  • The debate centered on perseverance and whether true faith can finally fail.
  • The scientist's perseverance led to a breakthrough after many failed experiments.
  • In some Christian traditions, perseverance is linked with assurance of salvation.

Similar words

faithfulness
endurance
final perseverance
grit
resolve
steadfastness
persistence
tenacity
steadfastness
determination

Meanings

Steady effort despite difficulty

noun
everyday
neutral
The quality of continuing toward a goal despite obstacles, failure, fatigue, or discouragement.

Examples

  • Her perseverance helped her finish the degree while working full time.
  • The team's perseverance showed after they kept training through every loss.
  • Learning a new language takes patience, practice, and perseverance.
  • His perseverance carried him through months of painful recovery.
  • The scientist's perseverance led to a breakthrough after many failed experiments.
  • The novel celebrates the perseverance of families facing hardship.
  • Even after repeated setbacks, their perseverance never wavered.

Similar words

Remaining in grace

noun
religion
technical
In Christian theology, continuance in faith or grace until the end of life, especially as a doctrine about salvation.

Examples

  • The sermon discussed perseverance as remaining in grace to the end.
  • In some Christian traditions, perseverance is linked with assurance of salvation.
  • The debate centered on perseverance and whether true faith can finally fail.
  • A chapter on Calvinism explained the doctrine of perseverance.
  • The theologian distinguished daily perseverance from the final perseverance of believers.
  • For the class, perseverance meant continuance in faith until death.
  • The phrase perseverance of the saints appears often in Reformed theology.

Similar words

Etymology

From Middle English perseveraunce, borrowed through Anglo-French and Old French from Latin perseverantia, meaning steadfastness or constancy, from perseverare, to continue steadfastly.

FAQ

What does perseverance mean?

Perseverance means continuing to work toward a goal despite difficulty, failure, or discouragement.

Is perseverance a noun or a verb?

Perseverance is a noun. The verb is persevere.

Is perseverance positive?

Perseverance is usually positive because it suggests steady effort and refusal to give up.

How is perseverance different from persistence?

Perseverance often suggests admirable effort through difficulty, while persistence can be positive or annoying depending on context.

What are synonyms for perseverance?

Useful synonyms include tenacity, determination, steadfastness, persistence, resolve, and grit.

What is the opposite of perseverance?

Opposites include quitting, surrender, abandonment, discouragement, and apathy.

What does perseverance of the saints mean?

Perseverance of the saints is a Christian doctrine about believers continuing in faith or grace to the end.

Where does perseverance come from?

Perseverance comes through French from Latin perseverantia, meaning steadfastness or constancy.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
Newest
Top
Active
Rustic Hippo
Jul 3
I still type perserverance half the time. too many r sounds floating around
1
Reply
Breezy Bobcat
Jun 28
en español es perseverancia, bastante transparente. nice when English gives us one easy cognate for once
1
Reply
Minty Panda
Jun 21
NASA made this one funny in my house, my kid hears Perseverance and thinks Mars rover first lol
2
Reply
Teal Zebra
Jun 19
perseverance always sounds like a school assembly word to me. In normal chat I'd probably say she stuck with it unless I was writing something serious
3
Reply
Contribution
Breezy Penguin
Jun 19
Careful with perseverate. It is a real verb, but it is not the brave version of persevere. In psychology or therapy talk it means getting stuck repeating or fixating on something, so 'she perseverated through nursing school' sounds very wrong.
12
Reply
Look up word or phrase...