Meanings
verbperseverate (third-person singular simple present perseverates, present participle perseverating, simple past and past participle perseverated)
present singular third person perseverates · participle present perseverating · participle past perseverated · past perseverated
- intransitivehuman sciencesTo persist in doing something; to continue to repeat an action after the original stimulus has ended.
After perseverating for several more months, Woodrow Wilson accepted the offer.
2013, A Scott Berg, Wilson, Berkley, published 2014, page 84 - transitivehuman sciencesTo cause the perseveration of (a given reflex or response).
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
Back-formation from perseveration. Doublet of persevere.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch steeds weerkeren, volharden volhouden
- steeds weerkerento repeat or continue a pattern
- volharden volhoudenbehaviour of exclusive and lasting obsession to a detail others consider minor
Polish powtarzać nieustannie, powtarzać nieustannie
- powtarzać nieustannieto repeat or continue a pattern
- powtarzać nieustanniebehaviour of exclusive and lasting obsession to a detail others consider minor
Cite this entry
APA
perseverate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perseverate
MLA
“perseverate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perseverate. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “perseverate,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perseverate.
Source: perseverate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.