English Reference
Adjective

pervasive

adj.
C1 Advanced US /pɝˈveɪsɪv/ UK /pəvˈeɪsɪv/ per·va·sive

adj.spreading through every part of something. You use this to describe a feeling, an idea, or a problem that is everywhere and hard to ignore.

adj.spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people. Often describes intangible things like influence, attitudes, or smells that permeate a whole environment.


SIMPLE

The smell of fresh coffee is pervasive in the morning.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite the new laws, the pervasive influence of old traditions continues to shape how the community makes decisions.

COMPLEX

The author explores how pervasive digital surveillance has become, arguing that the constant presence of cameras has fundamentally altered human behavior in public spaces.

Usage

Typically used to describe abstract concepts like influence, corruption, or moods. Often follows a linking verb like 'become' or 'remain'.

Boonwara Sumano also highlights the pervasive influence of the military in Thailand, even when it is not actually running the country, which it has done for most of its modern history.

BBC News· 16 Aug 2026

There is so much talk of all the lonely people in the world right now that the pervasive state of loneliness is being called an epidemic.

The Guardian· 3 Aug 2026

From Latin pervāsus, from pervādō (“spread through, pervade”), from per (“through”) + vādō (“go, walk”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated