perpetual

[ per-pech-oo-uhl ]

adjective

1. continuing or enduring forever; everlasting.

   Synonyms: enduring, permanent

   Antonyms: temporary

2. lasting an indefinitely long time:

   perpetual snow.

3. continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless:

   a perpetual stream of visitors all day.

   Synonyms: uninterrupted, unending, constant, incessant, continuous

   Antonyms: discontinuous

4. blooming almost continuously throughout the season or the year.

noun

1. a hybrid rose that is perpetual.
2. a perennial plant.

perpetual

/ pəˈpɛtjʊəl /

adjective

1. usually prenominal eternal; permanent
2. usually prenominal seemingly ceaseless because often repeated

   your perpetual complaints

3. horticulture blooming throughout the growing season or year

noun

1. (of a crop plant) continually producing edible parts: perpetual spinach
2. a plant that blooms throughout the growing season

Derived Forms

• perˈpetually, adverb

Other Words From

• per·pet·u·al·i·ty per·pet·u·al·ness noun
• per·pet·u·al·ly adverb
• non·per·pet·u·al adjective
• qua·si-per·pet·u·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetual¹

First recorded in 1300–50; late Middle English perpetuall, from Latin perpetuālis “permanent, universal, general,” equivalent to perpetu(us) “continuous, uninterrupted” ( per- “through, thoroughly” + pet-, base of petere “to seek, reach for” + -uus adjective suffix derived from a verb) + -ālis adjective suffix; replacing Middle English perpetuel, from Middle French, from Latin as above; per-, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetual¹

C14: via Old French from Latin perpetuālis universal, from perpes continuous, from per- (thoroughly) + petere to go towards

Synonym Study

See eternal.

Example Sentences

What that said to me is how terrifying it must be to feel this perpetual sense of unease and have no idea why.

From Los Angeles Times

She talks about a childhood where her family were in a "perpetual cycle of grief".

From BBC

It’s the living people of the land and their self-determination who give expression to a history in perpetual transition, waiting to be written, crafted, spoken and lived into existence in the here and now.

From Los Angeles Times

A one-time radical firebrand, he moved his party from the political margins and perpetual opposition to government and the mainstream of Scottish public life.

From BBC

The result is a life of perpetual outrage because the rest of the world seems uninterested in flattering them endlessly about how they are the greatest, smartest, funniest, best boys of all time.

From Salon

Related Words

• ceaseless
• constant
• continued
• continuous
• endless
• enduring
• eternal
• incessant
• infinite
• interminable
• never-ending
• perennial
• permanent
• persistent
• recurring
• unceasing
• unending