Word
continuous
Phoneticscon·tin·u·ous, stress on the second syllable
US/kənˈtɪnjuəs/
UK/kəntˈɪnjuːəs/
Definitions
01without stopping
B1 · Intermediate
adj. happening for a long time without any breaks or interruptions.
adj. forming an unbroken whole in time; occurring without cessation.
日本語:継続的※
“The continuous noise from the construction site made it hard to sleep.”
“The factory has been in continuous operation for over fifty years, never once shutting down its main assembly line.”
Pitfall
The continuous rain caused a flood.
The continual rain caused a flood.
Use 'continuous' for something that never stops for a second. Use 'continual' for something that happens again and again with small breaks.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02without gaps
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. forming a single line or surface without any spaces or holes.
adj. forming an unbroken physical sequence or spatial extent.
日本語:連続※
“The artist drew a continuous line across the paper without lifting her pen.”
“The property is surrounded by a continuous stone wall that stretches for several miles along the coast.”
Antonyms
03grammar
B1 · Intermediate Technical
adj. used to describe verb forms that show an action is still happening.
adj. denoting a grammatical aspect that describes an action or state in progress at a specific time.
“In the sentence 'I am eating,' the verb is in the present continuous tense.”
“Learners often struggle to distinguish between the present simple for habits and the present continuous for actions occurring at the moment of speaking.”
Usage
In many English textbooks, this is synonymous with the 'progressive' aspect.
Synonyms
Antonyms
04mathematics
C1 · Advanced Mathematics Technical
adj. describing a line or function on a graph that has no sudden jumps.
adj. describing a function for which small changes in the input result in small changes in the output, having no discontinuities.
“A continuous function can be drawn on a graph without ever lifting your pencil.”
“The theorem only applies if the underlying function is continuous over the entire closed interval.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “continuous” in context.
Verb
01. continuous throughout
“The noise from the construction was continuous throughout the night.”
adj + prep
02. ensure continuous
“The backup generator is designed to ensure continuous power supply.”
verb + adj
03. maintain continuous
“It is vital to maintain continuous contact with the rescue team.”
verb + adj
04. provide continuous
“The clinic aims to provide continuous care for elderly patients.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. almost continuous
“The city was subjected to almost continuous rain for three days.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. continuous assessment
“Your final grade is based on continuous assessment during the term.”
adj + noun
07. continuous improvement
“The company is committed to the process of continuous improvement.”
adj + noun
08. continuous stream
“A continuous stream of visitors arrived at the gallery all morning.”
adj + noun
09. continuous procedure
10. for a continuous period
“You must have lived here for a continuous period of five years.”
11. in a continuous line
“The soldiers stood in a continuous line along the border.”
12. remain in continuous use
“These traditional farming methods remain in continuous use today.”
Confusables
Continual describes things that happen again and again with breaks in between, while continuous describes things that never stop.
RememberContinual = recurring. Continuous = constant.
Etymology
From Latin continuus, from contineō (“hold together”). Displaced native Old English singal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/continuous
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0