perpetuate

American  

[per-pech-oo-eyt] / pərˈpɛtʃ uˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

perpetuated, perpetuating

1. to enable or allow the continuation of into the future; keep alive (used most often in reference to something considered harmful or false): Vines obscured a plaque intended to perpetuate her memory.

   Social media played a significant role in perpetuating political divisions.

   Vines obscured a plaque intended to perpetuate her memory.

2. to preserve from extinction or oblivion: perpetuate the species.

   to perpetuate one's name;

   perpetuate the species.

   Synonyms:

   sustain, save, preserve, maintain

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perpetuate British  

/ pəˈpɛtjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to cause to continue or prevail

   to perpetuate misconceptions

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Other Word Forms

• perpetuable adjective
• perpetuance noun
• perpetuation noun
• perpetuator noun
• unperpetuable adjective
• unperpetuating adjective

Etymology

Origin of perpetuate

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin perpetuātus (past participle of perpetuāre, derivative of perpetuus “uninterrupted”); perpetual, -ate ¹

Related Words

• bolster
• maintain
• preserve