persistence

noun

per·​sis·​tence pər-ˈsi-stən(t)s How to pronounce persistence (audio)
-ˈzi-
Synonyms of persistence
1
: the action or fact of persisting
2
: the quality or state of being persistent
especially : perseverance

Synonyms of persistence

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of persistence in a Sentence

He admired her dogged persistence in pursuing the job. His persistence in asking for a raise was finally rewarded. She has shown a lot of persistence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Security teams should prioritize execution paths where code can access secrets, create persistence or make system changes, then apply pre-execution controls that can stop or constrain artifacts when their behavior falls outside policy. — Ken Ammon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Hoban says she’s learned that bringing the vintage toys back to life often requires patience, persistence and a little imagination. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 Now, more than 50 years later, the ASM category has earned official status, thanks to the persistence of those who fought for it. — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026 His persistence and care made a lasting impression and reflect why he was chosen for this honor. — Debby Rice, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for persistence

Word History

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of persistence was in 1546

Rhymes for persistence

See All Rhymes for persistence

Browse Nearby Words

persist
persistence
persistency
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Persistence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persistence. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

persistence

noun
per·​sis·​tence pər-ˈsis-tən(t)s How to pronounce persistence (audio)
-ˈzis-
1
: the act or fact of persisting
2
: the quality of being persistent

More from Merriam-Webster on persistence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about persistence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All