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

Those two grew up in South San Francisco as fifth-graders at Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From BBC

And my fear, which is admittedly impossible to quantify, is that the exhaustion across the political spectrum with this never-ending carnival and the resulting need for perpetual vigilance is palpable, dangerous, and ready to be exploited by Republicans.

From Slate

He will question the "sense of almost perpetual government review over the BBC" and is expected to add: "No other country has anything like this. Public service broadcasters lie at the heart of our social and cultural life, and they are worth fighting for. And, to be frank, the fight is on."

From BBC

Related Words

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