persist in
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: * To continue firmly or obstinately in a course of action, opinion, or state, especially despite difficulty, opposition, or repeated instances. It implies a deliberate and often stubborn continuation of a specific behavior or activity.
Usage
The verb "persist in" is used to describe the action of continuing to do something, typically something perceived as negative, unwise, or against advice, with determination or stubbornness. It is followed by a gerund (the -ing form of a verb) or a noun phrase describing the activity. * Structure: persist in + [gerund/noun phrase]
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "to persist in the belief/notion/idea that...": To continue holding a belief firmly, even when faced with evidence to the contrary.
- He persisted in the belief that he could succeed without any help.
Variants and Related Words
- Persist (verb, intransitive): To continue to exist over a period of time.
- The pain persisted for several weeks.
- Persistence (noun): The fact of continuing in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition; also, the continued existence of something.
- Her persistence finally led to a breakthrough.
- Persistent (adjective): Continuing to do something in a determined way; also, continuing to exist or occur over a long period.
- He is a very persistent salesman.
- a persistent cough
Synonyms
- Continue in: To keep doing an action. (Less emphatic about stubbornness)
- Persevere in: To continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty. (Has a more positive connotation of admirable determination)
- Keep on: To continue. (More informal)
- Insist on: To demand or maintain something firmly. (Often overlaps, but focuses more on the demand than the continued action)
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Keep at: To continue working hard at something.
- If you keep at it, you'll eventually learn. (Similar to "persist in" but often more encouraging.)
Related Idioms
- To stick to one's guns: To refuse to change one's opinion or actions despite pressure.
- Even when criticized, she stuck to her guns and defended her policy. (This idiom conveys a similar meaning of determined persistence.)
Verb
- do something repeatedly and showing no intention to stop
- We continued our research into the cause of the illness
- The landlord persists in asking us to move