pur-SIS-tid
/pɚˈsɪstɪd/
persisted is pronounced pur-SIS-tid (/pɚˈsɪstɪd/). Persisted means continued firmly or obstinately in a course of action or belief, despite difficulty or opposition. It can describe something that endured over time or someone who remained resolute in pursuing a goal. The term often implies a sustained effort beyond initial obstacles.
Persisted means continued firmly or obstinately in a course of action or belief, despite difficulty or opposition. It can describe something that endured over time or someone who remained resolute in pursuing a goal. The term often implies a sustained effort beyond initial obstacles.
"She persisted with her training even after the injury."
"The data persisted across multiple trials, suggesting a real effect."
"Despite skepticism, he persisted in presenting his theory."
Pronounced pər-SIS-tid with secondary stress on the root syllable. IPA: US /pərˈsɪstɪd/, UK /pəˈsɪstɪd/, AU /pəˈsɪstɪd/. Start with a light schwa in the first syllable, then a stressed /sɪst/ cluster, and finish with /ɪd/. Tip: keep the mouth rounded slightly for the /p/ and ensure the /r/ is rhotic in US while non-rhotic in some UK dialects. Practice saying “per-SIST-ed” with emphasis on the second syllable.
Common errors: misplacing stress (saying per-SIS-ted with wrong emphasis); conflating /ˈpɜːrstɪd/ in some accents; dropping the final /d/ in fast speech; mispronouncing the /s/ as /z/ in rapid dialogue. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable (pər-SIS-ted), keep the /ɪ/ in the second syllable clear, and finish with a crisp /d/. In connected speech, avoid turning it into /ˈpɜːrsɪstɪd/ with extra syllables; keep close to /pərˈsɪstɪd/.
US: rhotic /r/ before vowel, clear schwa in initial syllable, /ˈpərˌsɪstɪd/ with strong /r/. UK: non-rhotic, /pəˈsɪstɪd/, weaker postvocalic r; syllables often shorter and crisper. AU: generally non-rhotic like UK, but vowels can be broader; /pəˈsɪstɪd/ with slight Australian vowel quality. Across all, the second syllable bears primary stress; vowel qualities may shift slightly with dialect, especially the /ɜː/ vs /ə/ in the first syllable.
Because it combines a stressed middle syllable with a light, unstressed initial schwa and a final voiced alveolar stop /d/. The transition from /ˈsɪst/ to /tɪd/ can blur in fast speech, and non-native speakers may reduce /ɪ/ too much or slip into /tɪd/ as /tɪz/. Focus on the clear /s/ cluster after the first syllable and keep the final /d/ voiceless-to-voiced transition crisp.
The word relies on a precise duration for the stressed /s/ in the second syllable and a clean release into the final /tɪd/ sequence. You should allocate slightly more time to /ˈsɪst/ before the final /ɪd/, ensuring the /t/ is released before the /ɪd/ rather than merging into a longer nasal or rhotic sound.
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US: rhotic, clear /r/ in the first syllable, more pronounced /ɜr/ in certain speakers. UK: non-rhotic; avoid adding /r/ after vowels; focus on a shorter /ə/ in the first syllable; AU: vowel shifts tend to be broader, with a flatter /ɪ/ in /sɪst/. IPA references: US /pərˈsɪstɪd/, UK /pəˈsɪstɪd/, AU /pəˈsɪstɪd/.
Persisted derives from the Latin persistere, formed from per- (through, thoroughly) + sistere (to stand, to set, to place). The root sistere is related to the verb sistere “to stand firm.” In late Latin, persistere evolved to mean “to continue steadfastly,” and in English the past tense formed as persisted in the 14th–15th centuries. Over time, sense broadened from simply standing to continue or endure to include persistence in action, belief, or memory. The word carries a nuance of deliberate endurance and repeated effort despite obstacles, contrasting with mere continuation. Its prevalence grew with the rise of long-form narratives and moral descriptions where steadfastness was a valued trait. First known use attested in Middle English sources, with cognates in Romance languages, reflecting a shared Latin root. The spelling with -ed reflects standard English past tense formation, mirroring similar verbs such as insisted, resisted, and persisted as a direct descendant of persistere through Old French and Middle English adaptations.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "persisted" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "persisted" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "persisted"
-ted sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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