The perseverance meaning is continuing to work toward a goal even when progress is slow, the task is hard, or you have failed before. It is the quality of not giving up, carried out day after day rather than in one big burst.
Few character words in English get praised as often, used by teachers, coaches, employers and parents. On this page you will get a plain definition of perseverance with real-life examples, its Latin roots, the verb that goes with it and how it compares with persistence, grit and tenacity.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Steady effort that keeps going despite difficulty or delayPart of speech
Noun (uncountable)Pronunciation
pur-suh-VEER-uhnsWord forms
persevere (verb), persevering (adjective), perseveringly (adverb)Origin
Old French, from Latin perseverantia, from perseverare, to continue steadilyOpposite
giving up, quitting, idlenessClose words
persistence, determination, grit, tenacityTone
Positive; a word of praise
Perseverance meaning in English, simply put
Perseverance is about time and difficulty together. A person shows it when they keep studying after failing an exam, keep applying after twenty rejections, or keep doing physical therapy after an injury even though recovery is slow. One brave act is courage; carrying on for months when nothing seems to change is perseverance.
The word nearly always carries praise. Calling someone persevering says that they kept their goal in mind and did the dull, tiring work needed to reach it.
Examples of perseverance in sentences
- It took Arjun four attempts to pass the driving test, and his perseverance finally paid off.
- Learning a new language as an adult takes patience and perseverance.
- The rescue team showed great perseverance, digging through the night.
- Her manager praised her perseverance on a project that kept running into delays.
- If you persevere with the exercises, your back pain may ease over a few weeks.
Using the noun and the verb
Treat the noun as uncountable: great perseverance, plenty of perseverance, never "a perseverance" or "perseverances". Common pairings are show perseverance, take perseverance, through perseverance, hard work and perseverance, and perseverance pays off.
The verb is persevere, and it usually takes with or in: persevere with a diet, persevere in your studies. You can also use it alone: It was tough, but she persevered.
Origin of the word
Perseverance entered Middle English through Old French, borrowed in turn from Latin perseverantia. The Latin verb perseverare means "to continue steadfastly" and is built from per (thoroughly, all the way through) and severus (strict or serious). So the idea at the core is staying strict with yourself all the way to the end.
In Christian theology there is also a teaching called the perseverance of the saints, which deals with whether believers remain in faith to the end of life. That is a specialist sense; everyday use is about effort and goals.
Perseverance, persistence, grit and tenacity
| Word | Focus | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| perseverance | keeping going through hardship toward a worthy goal | warm praise |
| persistence | continuing, even when told to stop | neutral, sometimes annoying |
| grit | tough courage and long-term passion | informal praise |
| tenacity | holding on firmly, refusing to let go | strong, forceful |
| resilience | bouncing back after a blow | praise |
A salesperson who keeps calling after you say no is persistent, not persevering. Perseverance suggests the obstacle is the task itself, not another person's refusal.
Spelling and pronunciation traps
- No extra r. The common misspelling is "perserverance". The word is per-se-ver-ance.
- Not "perseverence". It ends in -ance.
- Stress. Say pur-suh-VEER-uhns, with the stress on VEER. The verb is pur-suh-VEER too.
- Perseverance or perseveration. Perseveration is a term in psychology for repeating a thought or action when it is no longer useful, which is quite different.
Where you hear the word
School reports and award speeches use it to praise students who improved. Job interviews and performance reviews value it as a work trait. Sports commentary, biographies and graduation talks lean on it heavily. You will also meet it beside words like adversity, discipline and patience. More words about character are gathered in our hub of words about character and emotion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of perseverance in simple words?
It means not giving up. You keep working at something hard, even when it is slow or you have failed before.
Is perseverance a skill or a trait?
It is usually called a character trait, but it can be practiced like a skill. Breaking big goals into small daily steps makes it easier to keep going.
What is the verb form of perseverance?
The verb is persevere. You persevere with a task or persevere in an effort.
What is the difference between perseverance and patience?
Patience is calmly waiting or putting up with delay. Perseverance adds action: you keep working while you wait for results.
How do you spell and say perseverance?
It is spelled p-e-r-s-e-v-e-r-a-n-c-e, with no r after the first e. Say pur-suh-VEER-uhns.
How would you define perseverance in a school essay?
Describe it as steady effort toward a goal that continues through setbacks. Then add a specific story, because the word comes alive through an example of someone who kept going.
What is the opposite of perseverance?
Giving up or quitting is the plain opposite. Words like laziness or idleness describe a lack of effort more generally.