ENGLISH
REFERENCE

persist

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //pɝˈsɪst// UK //pəsˈɪst// per·sist Academic Archaic

v. to keep doing something even when it is difficult or when people tell you to stop. It can also mean that a problem or feeling continues to exist for a long time.

v. to continue firmly in an opinion or a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition; to remain in existence. In computing contexts, it refers to data that remains available after the process that created it has ended.


SIMPLE

If the symptoms persist for more than three days, see a doctor.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite several failed attempts to fix the bug, the developers decided to persist until they found the root cause.

COMPLEX

The challenge for modern database architecture is ensuring that critical transaction records persist even in the event of a sudden hardware failure or power loss.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French persister (Modern French persister), from Latin persistere, from per- + sistere (“to stand”).

Usage

The verb is intransitive and frequently takes the preposition 'in' when followed by a gerund, or 'with' when followed by a noun.

Pitfall

he persists to ask questionshe persists in asking questionsPersist is followed by the preposition 'in' and a gerund, not a to-infinitive.

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