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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

persistence

puh-SIHSTNS

Persistence (noun) means the quality of continuing to try despite difficulty. Example: “Her persistence eventually paid off when the company agreed to a refund.”

noun
1
The quality of continuing to try despite difficulty.
"Her persistence eventually paid off when the company agreed to a refund."
2
In computing, the property of data continuing to exist after a program has stopped running.
"The app uses a database to ensure data persistence between sessions."

How to use persistence

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot giving up — or, in tech, data that sticks around instead of disappearing.

Common pairings
data persistence persistence pays off

Word forms

persistences plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her _____ eventually paid off when the company agreed to a refund.

Etymology

From Middle French persistance, from persistant, from Latin persistēns, from persistō. By surface analysis, persist + -ence.

Origin: Middle French

Related words

Rhymes for persistence

See all rhymes for persistence →

Frequently asked questions

What does “persistence” mean?

The word “persistence” means the quality of continuing to try despite difficulty. In plain terms, not giving up — or, in tech, data that sticks around instead of disappearing.

How do you pronounce “persistence”?

“Persistence” is pronounced puh-SIHSTNS (/pəˈsɪst(ə)ns/ in IPA).

How do you use “persistence” in a sentence?

Here is “persistence” used in a sentence: “Her persistence eventually paid off when the company agreed to a refund.”

What is another word for “persistence”?

Words with a similar meaning to “persistence” include persistency.

What part of speech is “persistence”?

“Persistence” is a noun.

Is “persistence” a common word?

“Persistence” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “persistence” have?

“Persistence” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the quality of continuing to try despite difficulty.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary