continuous

C3O1N1T1I1N1U1O1U1S1
/kənˈtɪn.juː.əs//-(j)ɪu̯.əs/

adjective

Without stopping; without a break, cessation, or interruption.

“a continuous line of railroad”

Similar
perpetualnonstopincessantongoingprotractedextendedconnectedcontinued
Opposite
brokendiscontinuousdiscreteintermittentinterrupted
OriginLatin continuus →
CommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

adjectivecontinuous (not comparable)
  1. not comparableWithout stopping; without a break, cessation, or interruption.

    the continuous roar of a waterfall

    3 more examples

    a continuous current of electricity

    he can hear its continuous murmur

    1847 November 1, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie, Boston, Mass.: William D. Ticknor & Company, →OCLC, (please specify either |part=I or II)

    Google Glass batteries power down after 45 minutes of continuous recording, making it unlikely anyone could capture an entire film.

    2014 June 29, Adam Sherwin, “UK cinemas ban Google glasses over piracy risk”, in The Independent, archived from the original on 13 Apr 2025

    Synonyms: perpetual, nonstop, incessant, ongoing · Antonyms: broken, discontinuous, discrete, intermittent, interrupted

  2. not comparableWithout intervening space; continued.

    a continuous line of railroad

    2 more examples

    […] the Plan incorporates in proper combination every available modern technique, including extensive electrification on the new standard high-voltage a.c. system at a frequency of 50 cycles; main-line diesel traction as a half-way house to electrification; lightweight diesel trains for secondary and branch services; and a smaller wagon fleet doing more work by the use of continuous brakes in conjunction with modernised terminals and marshalling yards.

    1958 January 28, 'Borderer', “Ten Years of British Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 15

    The dynamic tests at Wildenrath use continuous test tracks built on the site of a former Royal Air Force station that was vacated after the end of the Cold War.

    2023 November 29, Philip Haigh, “New Piccadilly Line trains put to the test”, in RAIL, number 997, page 26

    Synonyms: protracted, extended, connected, continued, unbroken · Antonyms: broken, disconnected, disjoint

  3. not comparablebiologyNot deviating or varying from uniformity; not interrupted; not joined or articulated.
  4. not comparablemathematical analysisSuch that, for every x in the domain, for each small open interval D about f(x), there's an interval containing x whose image is in D.
  5. broadlynot comparablemathematicsSuch that each open set in the target space has an open preimage (in the domain space, with respect to the given function).

    Each continuous function from the real line to the rationals is constant, since the rationals are totally disconnected.

  6. not comparablegrammarExpressing an ongoing action or state.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveWithout stopping; without a break, cessation, or interruption.

Similar
perpetualnonstopincessantongoing
Opposite
brokendiscontinuousdiscreteintermittentinterrupted

adjectiveWithout intervening space; continued.

Similar
protractedextendedconnectedcontinuedunbroken
Opposite
brokendisconnecteddisjoint
Similar
amaranthinesolidceaselessconstantcontinualcontinuatedreichendlesseternaleverlastingincessiveinfinitenever-endingpersistentrelentlesssteadystilltermlessunceasingunendingunintermitteduninterruptedunremittinglastingpermanentsuccessiveuniform
Opposite
non-continuousnoncontinuousendingstopped

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivecontinuing in time or space without interruption

Similar
uninterruptedaround-the-clockday-and-nightnonstopceaselessconstantincessantcontinualdoggingpersisting
Opposite
discontinuous

adjectiveof a function or curve; extending without break or irregularity

Opposite
discontinuous
Also see
around-the-clockceaselessconsecutiveconstantcontinualcontinuatedoggingdreichendlessincessantincessivenever-endingnonstopperpetualpersistinground-the-clockstillstraightsustainedtermlessunbrokenunceasinguninterruptedunremitting

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latincontinuus
  2. Englishcontinuous

From Latin continuus, from contineō (“hold together”). Displaced native Old English singal.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek συνεχής, διηνεκής
  • συνεχής (sunekhḗs)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • διηνεκής (diēnekḗs)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • συνεχής (sunekhḗs)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • διηνεκής (diēnekḗs)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
Arabic مُتَوَاصِل, مُتَّصِل
  • مُتَوَاصِل (mutawāṣil)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • مُتَّصِل (muttaṣil)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • مُتَّصِل (muttaṣil)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
Bengali অনবচ্ছিন্ন
  • অনবচ্ছিন্ন (onbocchinno)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
Bulgarian непрекъснат, непрекъснат
  • непрекъснат (neprekăsnat)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • непрекъснат (neprekăsnat)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • непрекъснат (neprekăsnat)in mathematical analysis
  • продължителен (prodălžitelen)in grammar
Catalan continu, continu
  • continuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • continuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • continuin mathematical analysis
Chinese Mandarin 連續的 /连续的, 不斷的 /不断的
  • 連續的 /连续的 (liánxù de)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • 不斷的 /不断的 (bùduàn de)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • 持續的 /持续的 (chíxù de)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • 連續的 /连续的 (liánxù de)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • 不斷的 /不断的 (bùduàn de)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • 持續的 /持续的 (chíxù de)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • 連續的 /连续的 (liánxù de)in mathematical analysis
  • 進行式的 /进行式的 (jìnxíng shì de)in grammar
Czech nepřetržitý, kontinuální
  • nepřetržitýwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • kontinuálníwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • spojitýin mathematical analysis
Danish kontinuerlig
  • kontinuerligwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
Dutch continu, voortdurend
  • continuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • voortdurendwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • ononderbrokenwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • aanhoudendwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • onophoudelijkwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • continuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • ononderbrokenwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • continuin mathematical analysis
Esperanto daŭra, kontinua
  • daŭrawithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • kontinuain mathematical analysis
Estonian pidev, pidev
  • pidevwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • pidevwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • pidevin mathematical analysis
Finnish jatkuva, tasainen
  • jatkuvawithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • tasainenwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • jatkuvawithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • eheäwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • eheäin botany
  • jatkuvain mathematical analysis
  • jatkuvain grammar
French continu, continuel
  • continuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • continuelwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • continuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • continuin mathematical analysis
  • continuin grammar
German kontinuierlich, stetig
  • kontinuierlichwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • stetigwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • kontinuierlichwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • stetigwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • kontinuierlichin mathematical analysis
  • stetigin mathematical analysis
Greek αδιάκοπος, συνεχής
  • αδιάκοπος (adiákopos)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • συνεχής (synechís)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • διαρκής (diarkís)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • συνεχής (synechís)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • εξακολουθητικός (exakolouthitikós)in grammar
Hebrew רציף, רציף
  • רציף (ratsíf)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • רציף (ratsíf)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • רציף (ratsíf)in mathematical analysis
Hindi निरंतर, निरंतर
  • निरंतर (nirantar)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • निरंतर (nirantar)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
Hungarian folytonos, folyamatos
  • folytonoswithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • folyamatoswithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • folyamatoswithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • folytonosin mathematical analysis
  • folyamatosin grammar
Icelandic samfelld
  • samfelldin mathematical analysis
Indonesian kontinu, terus-menerus
  • kontinuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • terus-meneruswithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
Italian continuo, continuo
  • continuowithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • continuowithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • continuoin mathematical analysis
Latin continuus, perpetuus
  • continuuswithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • perpetuuswithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • perpeswithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
Lithuanian tolydinis
  • tolydiniswithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
Māori tāhuhu, rōnaki
  • tāhuhuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • rōnakiwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • ukiukiwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • mutungakorewithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • hūrokurokuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • tūmauwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • motukorewithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • ukiukiwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • motukorewithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • motukorein mathematical analysis
Norwegian Bokmål vedvarende, kontinuerlig
  • vedvarendewithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • kontinuerligwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
Persian مداوم, مستمر
  • مداوم (modâvem)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • مستمر (mostamar)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • بیوقفه (bê-vaqfe)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • پیوسته (peyvaste)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • پیوسته (peyvaste)in mathematical analysis
  • استمراری (estemrâri)in grammar
Polish ciągły, nieustanny
  • ciągływithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • nieustannywithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • nieprzerwanywithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • ciągłyin mathematical analysis
  • ciągłyin grammar
Portuguese contínuo, contínuo
  • contínuowithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • contínuowithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • contínuoin mathematical analysis
  • contínuoin grammar
Romanian continuu, neîntrerupt
  • continuuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • neîntreruptwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • continuuwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • neîntreruptwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • continuuin mathematical analysis
  • neîntreruptin mathematical analysis
Russian непреры́вный, непреры́вный
  • непреры́вный (neprerývnyj)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • непреры́вный (neprerývnyj)without break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • непреры́вный (neprerývnyj)in mathematical analysis
  • длительны́й (dlitelʹnýj)in grammar
Scottish Gaelic sìor, sìor
  • sìorwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • sìorwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
Spanish continuo, contino
  • continuowithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • continowithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • continuowithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • continowithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • continuoin botany
  • continoin botany
  • continuoin mathematical analysis
  • continuoin grammar
  • continoin grammar
Swedish kontinuerlig, kontinuerlig
  • kontinuerligwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • kontinuerligin mathematical analysis
Tagalog tuluyan, tuluyan
  • tuluyanwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • tuluyanwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • tuluyanin mathematical analysis
Tamil தொடர்
  • தொடர் (toṭar)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
Turkish sürekli, devamlı
  • sürekliwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • devamlıwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
Ukrainian безупи́нний, безпере́рвний
  • безупи́нний (bezupýnnyj)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • безпере́рвний (bezperérvnyj)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
Vietnamese liên tục, không ngừng
  • liên tụcwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • không ngừngwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • không dừngwithout break, cessation, or interruption in time
  • liên tụcwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • không ngừngwithout break, cessation, or interruption in space
  • liên tụcin mathematical analysis
  • tiếp diễnin grammar
Yiddish כּסדרדיק
  • כּסדרדיק (keseyderdik)without break, cessation, or interruption in time
Cite this entry
APA

continuous. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/continuous

MLA

“continuous.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/continuous. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “continuous,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/continuous.

Source: continuous on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.