What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
persevere
Example
She persevered through her studies and graduated with honors. [persevered: past tense]
Example
It's important to persevere through tough times and not give up. [persevere: verb]
persist
Example
He persisted in his efforts to find a job, despite facing many rejections. [persisted: past tense]
Example
Don't give up, persist until you achieve your goals. [persist: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Persist is more commonly used than persevere in everyday language. Persist is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while persevere is less common and is typically used in more formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between persevere and persist?
Persevere is more formal than persist. It is often used in academic or professional settings to describe a person's determination to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Persist, on the other hand, is more informal and can be used in everyday conversation to describe a person's refusal to give up or their determination to overcome a specific obstacle.
