persistence
B2Formal to neutral; common in academic, professional, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
the quality of continuing to try to do or achieve something despite difficulties or opposition; the state of continuing to exist or happen.
In computing, the characteristic of data that outlives the process that created it, or the continuation of a process or state after the cause has been removed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Denotes both a positive human quality (tenacity) and a neutral descriptive property of phenomena (continuance). Can sometimes imply stubbornness when viewed negatively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Equally positive in both varieties when referring to personal quality. The computing sense is equally technical.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both corpora. Possibly slightly more common in American business/self-help contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Persistence in + V-ing/noun (persistence in trying)Persistence of + noun (persistence of rain)With + persistence (with great persistence)Persistence + that-clause (her persistence that they reconsider)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Persistence pays off.”
- “Persistence overcomes resistance.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Valued as a key trait for salespeople and leaders; 'customer persistence' in software refers to saved user data.
Academic
Used in psychology (goal persistence), physics (persistence of vision), and ecology (species persistence).
Everyday
Praising someone who doesn't give up easily; describing annoying weather that continues.
Technical
In computing: 'data persistence', 'session persistence' (maintaining state across interactions).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- If symptoms persist, consult your GP.
- The rumour persisted for weeks in the staffroom.
American English
- If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
- The myth persists despite all evidence to the contrary.
adverb
British English
- He persistently asked for a review of the decision.
- The phone rang persistently all afternoon.
American English
- She persistently argued her case.
- Errors persisted occurring in the software.
adjective
British English
- He was a persistent critic of the policy.
- We've had persistent rain all bank holiday.
American English
- She is a persistent advocate for change.
- The region faces persistent drought conditions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her persistence helped her learn to ride a bike.
- The persistence of the cold weather surprised everyone.
- With persistence and hard work, you can achieve your goals.
- The persistence of high unemployment is a major concern.
- His dogged persistence in the face of repeated rejections finally landed him the job.
- Scientists are studying the persistence of certain chemicals in the environment.
- The committee admired the candidate's intellectual persistence in pursuing a novel line of research.
- The legal principle revolves around the persistence of obligation beyond the original contract term.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SISTer who PERsists in asking for something until she gets it. PER + SIS + TENCE.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSISTENCE IS A JOURNEY (staying on the path), PERSISTENCE IS A TOOL (using it to achieve), PERSISTENCE IS A FORCE (overcoming obstacles).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'persistentsiya' – this is a false friend. Use 'nastoychivost'' (настойчивость) for the quality, 'prodolzhenie' (продолжение) for the continuance sense.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'persistence' (noun) with 'persistent' (adj.). Using 'persistence' as a countable noun (e.g., 'He has many persistences').
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'persistence' have a primarily technical meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily positive, denoting admirable determination. It can be negative if implying annoying stubbornness (e.g., 'the persistence of the salesman'). Context dictates.
They are very close synonyms. 'Perseverance' often implies a longer-term struggle against more significant odds, while 'persistence' can be for shorter-term, repeated actions. They are often interchangeable.
No, 'persistence' is only a noun. The related verb is 'persist' (e.g., 'He will persist in his efforts').
Extremely rare and not standard. 'Persistence' is generally a non-count/uncountable noun. You would say 'acts of persistence' or 'instances of persistence' instead.
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