perseverance

/ˌpɜːsəˈvɪəɹəns/

Group 21Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(noun)
Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
GRE

Example in Context

Her perseverance through years of rejection finally paid off when a major publisher accepted the manuscript that had been turned down thirty-seven times.

Synonyms

persistencegritdetermination

Etymology

To keep going through difficulties without severing ties to your goals.

  • per- (Latin) — through
  • severare (Latin) — to sever

Memory Aid

👜Sounds like “purse of clearance

Imagine a PURSE filled with CLEARANCE items that you keep digging through despite the chaos — that's PERSEVERANCE!

Visual Association

🏋️A determined athlete lifting weights, sweat pouring down, as they push through the toughest part of their workout.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “perseverance” mean on the GRE?

perseverance (noun) means “Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success”. Her perseverance through years of rejection finally paid off when a major publisher accepted the manuscript that had been turned down thirty-seven times.

How to remember “perseverance” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “perseverance” sounds like “purse of clearance”. Imagine a PURSE filled with CLEARANCE items that you keep digging through despite the chaos — that's PERSEVERANCE!

What are synonyms for “perseverance”?

Common synonyms: persistence, grit, determination.