Perseverance — Meaning, Definition & Examples

Definition

Continued effort to do or achieve something, even when it is difficult or takes a long time.

Context Alive

She failed her driving test three times and almost gave up. But her perseverance kept her going back to practice every weekend. On the fourth try, she finally passed with flying colors.

Meanings

1 meaning

1 Continued Effort Despite Difficulty (Noun) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about refusing to quit even when things get really tough. Imagine someone training for a marathon who keeps running through rain, muscle pain, and exhaustion month after month. Their perseverance is what gets them across that finish line. This is the quality of pushing forward when everything tells you to stop. You might say “it took a lot of perseverance to finish the course” or someone could admire a friend’s perseverance in learning a new language. Or picture a small business owner who almost went bankrupt twice but kept working until the business finally succeeded. The word carries deep admiration — it’s always a positive quality. ✏️ Perseverance focuses on long-term effort over time, not just one brave moment — it’s about not giving up day after day.

Vivid Example

Nobody believed he could finish medical school while working full-time. But his quiet perseverance proved everyone wrong over the years. He graduated at the top of his class and never once complained about how hard it was.

Examples from the Street

“It took years of perseverance, but she finally got her medical degree.”

She kept going through years of difficulty and eventually achieved her goal

“You have to admire his perseverance — most people would have given up ages ago.”

You have to respect how he refuses to quit despite everything working against him

“Without perseverance, talent means nothing.”

Being gifted is worthless if you don’t have the determination to keep pushing through hard times

Common Patterns

show/demonstrate perseverance → display the ability to keep going through difficulty

have the perseverance (to do something) → possess the inner strength needed to continue despite obstacles

require/take/need perseverance → demand sustained effort over time to succeed

admire somebody’s perseverance → respect someone for refusing to give up

with perseverance → by continuing to try despite difficulties

sheer/pure perseverance → emphasise that nothing but determination made the difference

perseverance pays off/is rewarded → sustained effort eventually leads to a positive result

perseverance in the face of (adversity/difficulty/failure) → continuing despite serious challenges

perseverance and (hard work/dedication/patience) → commonly paired with other positive qualities

a story/tale of perseverance → a narrative about someone who succeeded by refusing to quit

a lesson in perseverance → an experience that teaches the value of not giving up

Collocations

3 collocations

sheer perseverance

pure determination despite difficulty

perseverance pays off

persistence eventually brings reward

show perseverance

demonstrate continuing effort despite obstacles

Example Sentences

12 examples

1

She showed incredible perseverance by retraining as a nurse after losing her business at fifty

She displayed remarkable determination by completely requalifying for a new career in healthcare after her company failed in middle age.

2

Building a successful startup takes perseverance — there will be countless setbacks along the way

Creating a thriving new business demands ongoing determination — you’ll face failure after failure before things come together.

3

His Olympic medal was the result of sheer perseverance — he’d missed out on the team three times before

His gold was purely down to stubborn refusal to quit — he’d been rejected from the squad on three separate occasions.

4

I really admire your perseverance — not many people would keep trying after so many rejections

I truly respect your refusal to give up — most people would have stopped attempting after being turned down that many times.

5

Perseverance paid off when she finally passed her driving test on the seventh attempt

Her refusal to give up was finally rewarded when she succeeded in getting her licence after failing six times.

6

The documentary tells a remarkable story of perseverance — a refugee who became a top surgeon

The film shares an extraordinary account of someone who never quit — a person who fled their country and went on to become a leading medical specialist.

7

You won’t master a musical instrument overnight — it requires patience and perseverance

You can’t become skilled at playing music quickly — it demands calmness and a willingness to keep practising over a long period.

8

Her perseverance in the face of constant criticism earned her the respect of the entire department

The way she kept going despite being regularly attacked by others won her the admiration of every single colleague.

9

The charity’s success is a lesson in perseverance — they spent five years fundraising before they could open their first shelter

The organisation’s achievement teaches us about the value of not quitting — they raised money for half a decade before they were able to launch their first centre.

10

With perseverance, even the most complex problems can eventually be solved

By continuing to work at it without giving up, even the hardest challenges can be figured out in the end.

Learner Examples

★

Learning to speak English fluently requires perseverance — progress often feels painfully slow, but every conversation brings you closer

Developing the ability to communicate naturally in a second language demands long-term determination — improvement frequently seems frustratingly gradual, but each exchange moves you forward.

★

Students who show perseverance when they struggle with pronunciation tend to develop much better speaking skills than those who avoid the sounds they find difficult

Learners who keep pushing through challenges with how words are said usually end up with far stronger oral ability than those who simply skip past tricky sounds.