perseverance
noun
per·se·ver·ance
ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-ən(t)s 
: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : the action or condition or an instance of persevering : steadfastness
His perseverance was rewarded: after many rejections, he finally found a job.
The road to the American dream was supposed to be built on perseverance and hard work.—
Ms. Guzman
Ms. GuzmanAaliyah and her artistry live on as a symbol of perseverance.—Julian Kimble
Julian KimbleExamples of perseverance in a Sentence
The great international collectors and curators, once celebrated for their perceptiveness and perseverance, are now regularly deplored as traffickers in, or receivers of, stolen goods.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Review of Books, 9 Feb. 2006
… a cavalcade of black and brown and female faces spinning stories of hardship and triumph through perseverance.
—Michelle Cottle, New Republic, 14 Aug. 2000
… he had no-nonsense coaches with hearts of gold who taught him discipline; he learned perseverance from a father who sent him back out to fight after he took a licking …
—Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 14 Dec. 1998
His perseverance was rewarded: after many rejections, he finally found a job.
Perseverance is required to perfect just about any skill.
Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Review of Books, 9 Feb. 2006
… a cavalcade of black and brown and female faces spinning stories of hardship and triumph through perseverance.
—Michelle Cottle, New Republic, 14 Aug. 2000
… he had no-nonsense coaches with hearts of gold who taught him discipline; he learned perseverance from a father who sent him back out to fight after he took a licking …
—Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 14 Dec. 1998
His perseverance was rewarded: after many rejections, he finally found a job.
Perseverance is required to perfect just about any skill.
Recent Examples on the Web
The unstoppable force of Sally’s resentment and the immovable object of Theo’s perseverance are not an ideal dramatic combination.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Using footage captured by climbers from various expeditions, the director Amir Bar-Lev constructs a portrait of perseverance—and hubris.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Whitmire used his nearly 30-minute speech to highlight a number of his accomplishments in office, and defended others while praising the hotel workers for their perseverance.
—Abby Church, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
To follow Newcastle this season takes a special kind of perseverance.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perseverance
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Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Using footage captured by climbers from various expeditions, the director Amir Bar-Lev constructs a portrait of perseverance—and hubris.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Whitmire used his nearly 30-minute speech to highlight a number of his accomplishments in office, and defended others while praising the hotel workers for their perseverance.
—Abby Church, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
To follow Newcastle this season takes a special kind of perseverance.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perseverance
Cite this Entry
“Perseverance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perseverance. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perseverance
noun
per·se·ver·ance
ˌpər-sə-ˈvir-ən(t)s
: the action, state, or an instance of persevering
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