continual

[ kuhn-tin-yoo-uhl ]

adjective

1. of regular or frequent recurrence; often repeated; very frequent:

   continual bus departures.

   Synonyms: repetitious, repetitive, recurrent, successive

2. happening without interruption or cessation; continuous in time.

   Synonyms: unending, uninterrupted, permanent, unbroken, unremitting, incessant, ceaseless, unceasing

continual

/ kənˈtɪnjʊəl /

adjective

1. recurring frequently, esp at regular intervals
2. occurring without interruption; continuous in time

Usage

See continuous

Confusables Note

Although usage guides generally advise that continual may be used only to mean “intermittent” and continuous only to mean “uninterrupted,” the words are used interchangeably in all kinds of speech and writing with no distinction in meaning: The president's life is under continual (or continuous ) scrutiny. Continuous (or continual ) bursts of laughter punctuated her testimony. The adverbs continually and continuously are also used interchangeably. To make a clear distinction between what occurs at short intervals and what proceeds without interruption, writers sometimes use the contrasting terms intermittent ( intermittent losses of power during the storm ) and uninterrupted ( uninterrupted reception during the storm ) or similar expressions. Continuous is not interchangeable with continual in the sense of spatial relationship: a continuous (not continual ) series of passages.

Derived Forms

• conˌtinuˈality, noun
• conˈtinually, adverb

Other Words From

• con·tinu·ali·ty con·tinu·al·ness noun
• quasi-con·tinu·al adjective
• quasi-con·tinu·al·ly adverb
• uncon·tinu·al adjective
• uncon·tinu·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of continual¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Medieval Latin continuālis, equivalent to Latin continu(us) “uninterrupted” + -ālis adjective suffix; replacing Middle English continuel, from Middle French, from Latin, as above; continuous, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of continual¹

C14: from Old French continuel, from Latin continuus uninterrupted, from continēre to hold together, contain

Example Sentences

And now the BoykinZ are hoping to play a role in the genre’s continual growth.

From Los Angeles Times

Bruins coach DeShaun Foster credited Gilmer’s early arrival for spring practice, a willingness to prove himself on special teams and a motor that requires continual monitoring by the coaching staff to prevent redlining.

From Los Angeles Times

That means more heartbreak for the families of the babies, who say they find the continual questioning of Lucy Letby’s convictions “grossly offensive and distressing”.

From BBC

While on his trip he captured everything from glaciers crumbling to a penguin colony that resembled "a holiday camp", resulting in a continual spectacle that left the 58-year-old awestruck.

From BBC

She quit because of the media personality’s “continual and outrageous acts of jealousy,” according to court documents reviewed by The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• around-the-clock
• ceaseless
• continuous
• endless
• enduring
• frequent
• interminable
• perpetual
• persistent
• recurrent
• relentless
• repeated
• steady
• unbroken
• unceasing
• unending
• uninterrupted
• unremitting