perennial

[ puh-ren-ee-uhl ]

adjective

1. lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring:

   As my grandmother aged, I marveled at her perennial beauty.

   Synonyms: continual, incessant, constant, perdurable

2. (of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years.
3. lasting or continuing throughout the entire year:

   The interpretive boardwalk follows a perennial stream through the marsh to the lake.

4. arising repeatedly or always existing; perpetual; recurrent:

   Tie dye is a perennial hit with children of all ages.

   The perennial rivalry between the two colleges ramps up during football season.

   Synonyms: immortal, eternal, undying, imperishable

5. Sometimes Perennial. relating to or being an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes; ageless:

   Many companies are seeking to retain their perennial workers so as not to lose institutional history.

   This writer is a Perennial thinker, which is why he is successful and yet not really popular.

noun

1. a plant with a life cycle lasting more than two years:

   Daffodils and tulips are perennials.

2. something that is continuing, recurring, or enduring:

   Classical literature remains a perennial in liberal arts classrooms.

3. Sometimes Perennial. an older person, especially one whose mindset, lifestyle, skills, or interests defy generational labels and stereotypes:

   At 81, the mayor calls herself a Perennial with no plans to retire.

perennial

/ pəˈrɛnɪəl /

adjective

1. lasting throughout the year or through many years
2. everlasting; perpetual

noun

1. a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two years Compare annual biennial

perennial

/ pə-rĕn′ē-əl /

Adjective

1. Living for three or more years.

Noun

1. A perennial plant. Herbaceous perennials survive winter and drought as underground roots, rhizomes, bulbs, corms, or tubers. Woody perennials, including vines, shrubs, and trees, usually stop growing during winter and drought. Asters, irises, tulips, and peonies are familiar garden perennials.
2. Compare annual

Derived Forms

• perˈennially, adverb

Other Words From

• per·en·ni·al·i·ty [p, uh, -ren-ee-, al, -i-tee], noun
• per·en·ni·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of perennial¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin perenni(s) “lasting the whole year through” ( per- per- ( def ) + -enn-, stem of annus “year” + -is, adjective suffix) + -al ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of perennial¹

C17: from Latin perennis continual, from per through + annus year

Example Sentences

There’s top players at perennial powers Cathedral and Loyola.

From Los Angeles Times

What to do with the guy who came second is a perennial challenge for new leaders.

From BBC

Along with olives, Chalice Farm also grows perennial vegetables, fruit and nuts on their sunshine-drenched land surrounded by creeks and forested ridge.

From Salon

The New York Yankees were his model, the perennial big spenders.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet there is the perennial frustration in the northern hemisphere - for England in particular - that competitive matches, those appetite-whetting encounters featuring the world's best players, are so few and far between.

From BBC

Related Words

• chronic
• continual
• continuing
• eternal
• longstanding
• never-ending
• persistent
• recurrent
• seasonal