persistir
verbCEFR B2
What does “persistir” mean in English?
to persist, to persevere
to persist, to persevere (persistir en + noun/infinitive — continue despite obstacles)
Example sentences
A pesar de los obstáculos, el investigador persistió en su hipótesis.
Despite the obstacles, the researcher persisted in his hypothesis.
Si el dolor persiste, consulte a un especialista lo antes posible.
If the pain persists, consult a specialist as soon as possible.
How to use it
Persistir (en) means 'to persist' or 'to persevere'. Intransitive; always followed by en + noun or infinitive. More formal than seguir + gerund. Collocations: persistir en el intento, persistir en la hipótesis, persistir a pesar de. The prefix per- signals sustained continuation through difficulty.
Common mistake
Persistir (en) takes en + noun or infinitive, not que + clause: 'persistió en intentarlo' not *'persistió que lo intentara'. Also distinct from insistir en (insist — more forceful verbal assertion) — persistir is about continued action, not speech.