Persist vs. Persevere — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 4, 2024
Persist involves continuing a course of action despite difficulty or delay in achieving success, whereas persevere focuses on maintaining a purpose in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
Difference Between Persist and Persevere
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Persist refers to the act of continuing steadfastly or firmly in some state or action, especially in spite of opposition. Whereas, persevere implies a deeper commitment and determination in doing something despite difficulties or delay in achieving success.
When someone persists, they may simply continue doing something. On the other hand, to persevere often requires overcoming substantial challenges and continuing with a sense of purpose.
Persist can be applied to a broad range of activities, whether it involves an idea, effort, or task. Whereas, perseverance is typically associated with long-term goals and often has a moral or emotional component.
In everyday usage, persist might be seen as somewhat less intense than persevere, which carries a connotation of bravery and endurance.
People persist in a task when conditions make it difficult. On the other hand, people persevere through conditions that make a task seem not just difficult, but nearly impossible.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Continue firmly or obstinately
Continue in a course of action even against difficulties
Focus
Action or state continuation
Long-term goals despite obstacles
Emotional Component
Less emphasized
Strongly emphasized
Usage Context
Broad, including ideas or tasks
Often involves moral, personal challenges
Typical Connotation
Steadfastness
Bravery, endurance
Compare with Definitions
Persist
To go on resolutely or stubbornly.
She persisted in her studies despite financial hardships.
Persevere
Continue steadfastly, especially with something challenging.
He persevered in his efforts to master the piano.
Persist
Remain stable or fixed in a state.
The cold weather persisted throughout the week.
Persevere
Maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement.
They persevered in their quest to reach the summit.
Persist
To be insistently repetitive.
He persisted in his attempts to win her approval.
Persevere
Persist in anything undertaken.
She persevered in her studies to become a doctor.
Persist
Continue in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
Despite the initial failures, he persisted with his project.
Persevere
Uphold a course of action in a belief.
They persevered in their fight for justice.
Persist
To continue to exist.
The old laws still persist in some countries.
Persevere
Remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles.
Despite the setbacks, he persevered in his entrepreneurial endeavor.
Persist
Persist is a Java-based ORM/DAO tool. It provides only the minimal amount of functionalities necessary to map objects or maps from database queries and to statement parameters.
Persevere
Persevere is the fourth studio album by Scottish folk rock duo The Proclaimers, released in 2001 on their own label Persevere Records, as a comeback album after seven years of low profile. The album's first single featured "There's a Touch", "A Land Fit for Zeros" and "They Really Do" (not included in the album).
Persist
Continue in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition
The minority of drivers who persist in drinking
We are persisting with policies that will create jobs for the future
Persevere
To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement.
Persist
To be obstinately repetitious, insistent, or tenacious.
Persevere
(intransitive) To persist steadfastly in pursuit of an undertaking, task, journey, or goal, even if hindered by distraction, difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement.
Persist
To hold firmly and steadfastly to a purpose, state, or undertaking despite obstacles, warnings, or setbacks.
Persevere
To stay constant; to continue in a certain state; to remain.
Persist
To continue in existence; last
Hostilities that have persisted for years.
Persevere
To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any project or course begun; to maintain a purpose in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement; not to give or abandon what is undertaken.
Thrice happy, if they knowTheir happiness, and persevere upright.
Persist
(intransitive) To go on stubbornly or resolutely.
Persevere
Be persistent, refuse to stop;
He persisted to call me every night
The child persisted and kept asking questions
Persist
(intransitive) To repeat an utterance.
Persist
(intransitive) To continue to exist.
Persist
To continue to be; to remain.
Persist
To cause to persist; make permanent.
Persist
To stand firm; to be fixed and unmoved; to stay; to continue steadfastly; especially, to continue fixed in a course of conduct against opposing motives; to persevere; - sometimes conveying an unfavorable notion, as of doggedness or obstinacy.
If they persist in pointing their batteries against particular persons, no laws of war forbid the making reprisals.
Some positive, persisting fops we know,Who, if once wrong, will needs be always so.
That face persists.It floats up; it turns over in my mind.
Persist
Continue to exist;
These stories die hard
The legend of Elvis endures
Persist
Be persistent, refuse to stop;
He persisted to call me every night
The child persisted and kept asking questions
Persist
Stay behind;
The smell stayed in the room
The hostility remained long after they made up
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to persist in a task?
Persisting in a task means continuing to push forward in it despite facing challenges or slow progress.
Does persistence require emotional involvement?
Persistence might not necessarily require emotional involvement; it's more about the steadfast continuation of an action.
How does perseverance differ from persistence?
Perseverance involves continuing in a course of action with a strong commitment, typically against more significant obstacles than those requiring mere persistence.
Can persistence be considered a form of perseverance?
Yes, persistence can be seen as a component of perseverance, especially when it involves continuous effort over time.
Is perseverance always a positive trait?
Generally, perseverance is viewed positively as it reflects determination and tenacity; however, it can be negative if it leads to stubbornness in adverse situations.
What are some synonyms for persist?
Continue, maintain, carry on, keep up, stick with.
What are some synonyms for persevere?
Endure, maintain, continue, carry on, soldier on.
In what scenarios is it better to persist than to persevere?
It's better to persist in routine or short-term tasks where the continuation is more critical than overcoming major obstacles.
In what contexts is perseverance preferred?
Perseverance is preferred in contexts involving long-term goals or significant challenges that require more than just ongoing effort.
How do persistence and perseverance relate to success?
Both traits are essential for success, with persistence helping to maintain steady progress and perseverance enabling individuals to overcome substantial challenges.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
