perpetuate
verb
per·pet·u·ate
pər-ˈpe-chə-ˌwāt 
perpetuated; perpetuating
: to make perpetual or cause to last indefinitely
perpetuate the species
Examples of perpetuate in a Sentence
He perpetuates the myth that his house is haunted.
Fears about an epidemic are being perpetuated by the media.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shortly afterward, the company’s stock prices can go into a downward spiral as the company perpetuates its toxic behavior, selling more shares at a fraction of the price whenever the stock exhibits a significant upward trend.
—
David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Illinois forces workers to jump through expensive, excessive regulatory hoops that are not only virtually unnecessary but also perpetuate income inequality.
—Eric Zamparripa, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
The placement is deliberate and symbolic, a visual touchstone giving silent counsel during one of the most consequential presidencies in American history—as if to perpetuate a visual dialogue between the 16th president and the 26th.
—Douglas Brinkley, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Such a shift in views can perpetuate more inflation, especially if workers demand higher pay increases to offset expectations of more price hikes.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perpetuate
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David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Illinois forces workers to jump through expensive, excessive regulatory hoops that are not only virtually unnecessary but also perpetuate income inequality.
—Eric Zamparripa, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
The placement is deliberate and symbolic, a visual touchstone giving silent counsel during one of the most consequential presidencies in American history—as if to perpetuate a visual dialogue between the 16th president and the 26th.
—Douglas Brinkley, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Such a shift in views can perpetuate more inflation, especially if workers demand higher pay increases to offset expectations of more price hikes.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perpetuate
Cite this Entry
“Perpetuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perpetuate. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perpetuate
verb
per·pet·u·ate
pər-ˈpech-ə-ˌwāt
perpetuated; perpetuating
: to make perpetual or cause to last indefinitely
Legal Definition
perpetuate
transitive verb
per·pet·u·ate
pər-ˈpe-chə-ˌwāt
perpetuated; perpetuating
: to preserve or make available (testimony) for later use at a trial by means of deposition especially when the evidence so gathered would be otherwise unavailable or lost
Note: Courts will not allow the perpetuation of testimony at a pretrial proceeding if it appears to be an attempt to fish for useful material.
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