insistin‧sist /ɪnˈsɪst/ ●●● S3 W2 verb [intransitive] 
Mike insisted that he was right. His friends insisted he had no connection with drugs.insist on something She kept insisting on her innocence.2to demand that something should happen: Stay for supper – I insist!insist (that) somebody should do something They insisted that everyone should come to the party. He insisted I should take a taxi.insist on something We insist on the highest standards of cleanliness in the hotel.insist on/upon doing something He insisted upon checking everything himself.3if you insist spoken used when agreeing to do something that you do not really want to do: ‘Why don’t you call them up today?’ ‘Oh, if you insist!’4 insist on doing something to keep doing something, especially something that is inconvenient or annoying: She will insist on washing her hair just when I want to have a bath.GRAMMAR: Patterns with insist• You insist on something: · She insists on her own bedroom.• You insist on doing something: · She insists on having her own bedroom. ✗Don’t say: She insists her own bedroom.• In everyday English, you insist that someone does something: · I insist that he waits.• In formal English, you insist that someone do something, using the base form of the verb (=infinitive without ‘to’): · I insist that he wait.• You use the base form of the verb when talking about the past: · I insisted that he wait. In everyday English, people also say: · I insisted that he waited.• You insist that someone should do something: · They insisted that I should join them. This pattern is often used in the past, when reporting what someone has insisted.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSinsist to say firmly that someone should do something or that something should happen: · She insisted that it was her turn to drive.demand to say very strongly and sometimes angrily that you want something or that something must happen: · I wrote a letter to the company, demanding an apology and a refund.· The guards demanded to see her ID.require [usually passive] formal if you are required to do something, a rule or law says that you must do it: · The successful applicant will be required to sign a two-year contract.be adamant to say very firmly that something must happen or is right, and refuse to change your mind when other people try to persuade you: · The actress has always been adamant about keeping her private life private.won’t take no for an answer informal to insist that someone must do what you say or ask: · You’re coming home with me – I won’t take no for an answer.put your foot down to say very firmly that someone must not do something: · Ed was talking about dropping out of school, but Mom and Dad put their foot down.
WORD ORIGINinsist
Origin:
1500-1600 Latin insistere ‘to stand on, continue with determination’, from sistere ‘to stand’VERB TABLE
insist
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | insist |
| he, she, it | insists | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | insisted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have insisted |
| he, she, it | has insisted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had insisted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will insist |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have insisted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am insisting |
| he, she, it | is insisting | |
| you, we, they | are insisting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was insisting |
| you, we, they | were insisting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been insisting |
| he, she, it | has been insisting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been insisting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be insisting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been insisting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "I really need to speak to you now." "Oh, all right if you insist."
- He was a religious man who insisted his children went to church every Sunday.
- I didn't want to tell dad about the fight, but he insisted.
- I wanted to pay by cheque but the landlord insisted that I pay him in cash.
- Let me pay this time. I insist.
- Many workers now insist on a smoke-free environment.
- Mom always insists that we keep our rooms neat.
- The man insisted on helping me find a taxi even though I told him I didn't need any help.
- They're insisting we report the matter to the police right away.
- Though there are no other witnesses, she insists she saw a man in the yard that night.
- UFO spotters will always insist that their data is correct.
- We hadn't intended to stay for another drink, but our host insisted.
THESAURUS
to say firmly that someone should do something or that something should happen: · She insisted that it was her turn to drive.
to say very strongly and sometimes angrily that you want something or that something must happen: · I wrote a letter to the company, demanding an apology and a refund.· The guards demanded to see her ID.
[usually passive] formal if you are required to do something, a rule or law says that you must do it: · The successful applicant will be required to sign a two-year contract.
to say very firmly that something must happen or is right, and refuse to change your mind when other people try to persuade you: · The actress has always been adamant about keeping her private life private.
informal to insist that someone must do what you say or ask: · You’re coming home with me – I won’t take no for an answer.
to say very firmly that someone must not do something: · Ed was talking about dropping out of school, but Mom and Dad put their foot down.
Longman Language Activatorwhen a law court decides that someone is innocent · "I really need to speak to you now." "Oh, all right if you insist."· We hadn't intended to stay for another drink, but our host insisted.insist (that) · Mom always insists that we keep our rooms neat.· He was a religious man who insisted his children went to church every Sunday.insist on · Many workers now insist on a smoke-free environment.insist on doing something · The man insisted on helping me find a taxi even though I told him I didn't need any help.
to say very strongly and often angrily that something should be done or given to you: · Parents are demanding greater control over their children's education.· I caught Alice going through my letters and demanded an immediate explanation.demand that: · State health inspectors have demanded that the city act immediately to clean the water supply.demand to do something: · The guards demanded to see her I.D. before they allowed her in the building.· Daley demanded to know why the police had not been called in to stop the rioting.
to say firmly that someone must not do something or behave in a particular way: · You'd better put your foot down before those kids get completely out of control.· Ed was talking about dropping out of school, but Mom and Dad put their foot down.
if someone is adamant about something, they say strongly that it must be done or that it is right and no one can persuade them to change their mind: · I didn't want to go to the party, but he was adamant and we ended up going.be adamant about: · The protesters were adamant about staying and making sure their voices were heard.be adamant that: · The company's managing director is adamant that there will be no compromise with the unions.be adamant in your opposition/refusal/desire etc: · The district attorney has been adamant in her refusal to pursue the case.
informal if someone won't take no for an answer, they insist that you must do something, even though you have told them that you do not want to do it: · You simply must come to dinner on Saturday - I won't take no for an answer!· I told him that I didn't want to go out with him, but he wouldn't take no for an answer.
to say repeatedly and strongly that someone should do something, even though they disagree: · My boss finally got me to take the course - he's very insistent.be insistent that: · Eric's parents have been insistent that he and his girlfriend get married.be insistent on: · The principal would be less insistent on kids wearing school uniforms if the school had to pay for them.
if you do something at someone's insistence , you do it because they say you must do it: · Byrd claims he was carrying the gun at his wife's insistence.· At Stevenson's insistence, Reynold's name was kept on the list.at the insistence of somebody: · U.S. troops were finally removed from the country at the insistence of Congress.
informal to insist that someone should not do something, especially because you want to help them in some way: · I've offered to pay Simon for fixing my car, but he won't hear of it.· Jack wouldn't hear of Debbie going back to work so soon after the baby was born.
to say that something is definitely true to say that something is true, even though it has not been proved and people may not believe it: claim (that): · Martin claimed that he was with friends at the time of his wife's murder.· She claimed she was fired from her job for being pregnant.claim to be something: · She claims to be a descendent of Charles Dickens.claim to have done something: · Doctors claim to have discovered a cure for the disease.claim responsibility/credit etc: · No one has yet claimed responsibility for planting the bomb.
to repeatedly say that something is true, especially when other people do not believe you: maintain (that): · My mother always maintains that I learned to talk at six months.· The authors of "Superdiet' maintain you can lose pounds without eating less.
to state very firmly that something is true: assert (that): · Professor Sykes has asserted that the skeleton, which was said to be man's first ancestor, is in fact a fake.· After 1947, Nehru began to assert his supremacy and sack party chiefs who opposed him.· If women are to have equal opportunity, they must loudly assert their ability to do all traditional "male' jobs.
if you confirm something that other people have already said is true, you say publicly that it is definitely true: · Mr Eastwood refused to confirm or deny the rumour.confirm (that): · Police have confirmed that they are questioning a woman about the disappearance of baby Kelly Truman.
to make a formal statement of what is true, especially in a court of law: · Police had to guard him in hospital until he was well enough to testify.testify that: · I'm prepared to testify in court that I was in Carolyn's apartment that night.testify against somebody (=say something intended to prove someone is guilty): · The witness who had testified against him withdrew her allegation.
informal to say very firmly that what you have said is the truth: swear (that): · It was a mistake -- she swears that she didn't mean to do it.· The plane flew so low that Geoff swears he saw one wing touch the top of a tree.swear blind (that) (=used for emphasizing that someone is telling the truth): · She swears blind that she never met the man.
if someone such as a doctor or another professional person certifies something, they officially say that it is true: certify (that): · Doctors have certified that the suspect was in a lot of pain at the time of the incident.certify somebody fit/dead/insane etc: · The doctor certified me unfit to go to work for the next month.
to say and repeat that something is true, especially when a lot of people think that it might not be true: insist (that): · Though there are no other witnesses, she insists she saw a man in the yard that night.· UFO spotters will always insist that their data is correct.
to firmly and repeatedly state that you have not done something wrong: protest (that): · Marge protested that she had never had any kind of affair with Lawrence.protest your innocence (=say repeatedly that you did not commit a crime): · Throughout the trial Reilly protested his innocence.
to say that you have not done something bad that people say you have done: · Bowlam denied all charges of selling drugs to children.deny (that): · The singer denies that he copied the tune from an old Beatles song.deny doing something: · Did he actually deny meeting Jenny that night? flatly/categorically deny (=deny very strongly): · The foreman had not informed us that the paraffin might explode. In fact he had categorically denied there was any danger.
to tell someone to do something · "Wait here!" he told the children.tell somebody to do something · The teacher told us to be quiet.· I thought I told you to be in bed by 10 o'clock!tell somebody not to do something · She told him not to phone her again.tell somebody (that) · The doctors have told me that I should give up smoking.tell somebody how/what/where etc · Don't tell me how to behave in public!· I'm in charge here, and I'm not going to have anyone telling me what to do.do as you are told (=used to tell children to obey) · Do as you're told and go and wash your hands.
to tell someone to do something in a threatening way: · "Don't move", he ordered.order somebody to do something: · A man with a gun ordered the woman to give him all her money.· He was ordered to pay £4000 towards the court costs of £10,000.order somebody out of/into/back etc: · She pointed her gun at him, ordering him out of the room.
to tell someone politely but firmly to do something or to stop doing something: · Mr Evans, I must ask you to come with me to the police station.ask somebody not to do something: · Would you ask visitors not to park their cars in front of the entrance.
to tell someone that they must do something, especially when you are angry or impatient and want them to do it immediately: demand (that): · You should demand that they finish the job now, not some time in August.· Realizing that her husband had deceived her, she demanded that he tell her the whole truth.demand an apology/a refund etc (=tell someone that they must say they are sorry, give money back etc): · How dare you say that! I demand an apology.
to tell someone firmly and repeatedly that they must do something, especially something that they do not want to do: · I didn't want to tell dad about the fight, but he insisted.insist (that): · I wanted to pay by cheque but the landlord insisted that I pay him in cash.· They're insisting we report the matter to the police right away.
to tell someone exactly what they must do or how they must behave, as if you had power to make them obey you: dictate to: · She refused to be dictated to by some stupid official in Washington.dictate how/what/where etc: · Your parents have no right to dictate how you should spend your money.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Stay for supper – I insist!
Stay for supper – I insist!· I insisted that he wait.
· I insisted that he waited.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· She always insisted on doing it herself and that made it easy for you.· Successful entrepreneurs always insist on some form of agreement, even if it is just a simple letter confirming a conversation.· Why do you always insist on burgling only second floor flats?· Knowing that, later I always insisted we send our very best, not our worst, when we were called on.· But he always insisted that the Council was his responsibility.· He has always insisted, however, that the legacy of Rossellini was not merely stylistic.· Chadwick had always insisted that ultimate sanitary authority needed to remain with non-medical administrators.· Owner Eddie DeBartolo has always insisted they stay in the finest hotels on the road.
· Croydon Corporation were insisting on specially dressed stone setts.· The girl had insisted on driving her all the way home.· The site operators enforce safety controls far tougher than those insisted on by Government.· He was a kind of male Malinche figure, one who insisted on otherness rather than on accommodation.· It was the coldest time of the year and the first thing I insisted on was having a telephone.· Successful entrepreneurs always insist on some form of agreement, even if it is just a simple letter confirming a conversation.· Labour would insist on legally enforceable democracy in a union's internal affairs.
· Czechoslovakia still insists on an inflated hard currency exchange rate which reflects its closed economy.· Not so, the Treasury still insists.· Simeon still insisted, against all plausibility, that he would graduate from City as an electrical engineer.· If he or she still insists on following you around, make it clear that they can come no closer.· But Mel still insisted they had nothing to worry about.· We are still insisting that the attack on Baghdad was carried out to protect the lives of our air crew.· Some councils therefore still insist on every committee decision being referred to the full council for confirmation or rejection.
NOUN· We saluted the Press, mentioning the government forces that insisted on closing down our city's own broadcasting station.· Panel members and airline and government officials insist that fears about bias and invasion of privacy are unfounded.· Will we see one day the government insisting that games have time limiters the way that some motor vehicles have speed limiters?· But the Government insisted there's no case to answer.· The government insisted that they did.· The Government has insisted that confidence is needed before the economy can improve.· The crisis surrounding the tunnel threatens to embarrass the Government, which insisted it be financed entirely by the private sector.
· In addition, the legislation is intended to make the Fed more accountable to elected officials by insisting on reforms.· Crawford says Blue Heron officials insist a soundstage is sorely needed to boost film revenues here.· The Commission official insisted these loans were repayable with interest, and did not constitute a subsidy.· Panel members and airline and government officials insist that fears about bias and invasion of privacy are unfounded.· Government officials insisted that they were not going to build walls or put up barbed wire round the embassies.· The idea, state officials insist, was merely to turn the protesters around with a show of force.· But planning officials and Labour councillors insist the scheme will works only if it gives shoppers maximum access to the road.· University officials have insisted, however, they will pay relocation expenses to the businesses.
VERB· Councillor Mrs Mairhi Trickett continued to insist that everything they had done was in the best interests of the children.· However, Lindsey continued to insist that the social description was the appropriate characterization because the policy talk was incidental.· These are the reasons why many socialists continue to insist that planning is still superior to the market.· Robert Kennedy, however, continued to insist on a less belligerent initial response.· Administration scientists continue to insist that there is no proven link between C02 emissions and global warming.· Thus, they continue to insist that they have right of access to hacienda resources.· Despite this development, however, the company founders continued to insist that they were not in the contract-programming business.· The United States continued to insist that any deal-making regarding the divided peninsula would have to involve Seoul.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- "Let's invite them over for dinner." "OK, if you insist."
- And if I insisted he came with me, he'd likely cause trouble, just as he said.
- Call it adultery if you insist.
- He thought it would probably confuse them if he insisted on their moving on.
- However, if they insist on collecting the fee, dump them.
- However, if you insist on sawing the post in place, brace it firmly.
- Probably not, if one insists absolutely on the principle of non-repetition.
- This only comes as a shock if we insist on seeing Theo in terms of sainthood.
- Finally, he insisted on carrying it.
- For example, insisting on conditions that would in theory make the employment of women more likely often has the opposite effect.
- I declined, but she insisted on following me for several hundred yards.
- In fact, the only thing likely to take any time is deciding which to have. Insist on the best.
- She insisted on cleaning my flat very thoroughly every Tuesday and Thursday, and often left me a casserole in the oven.
- Surely Harrison would have insisted on having it pose with him.
- Tanya insists on moving in many circles and, above all, on thinking for herself.
- Together the two books test what can be gained and lost by insisting on either innocence or experience.
WORD FAMILYnouninsistenceadjectiveinsistentverbinsistadverbinsistently
1to say firmly and often that something is true, especially when other people think it may not be trueinsist (that) Mike insisted that he was right. His friends insisted he had no connection with drugs.insist on something She kept insisting on her innocence.2to demand that something should happen: Stay for supper – I insist!insist (that) somebody should do something They insisted that everyone should come to the party. He insisted I should take a taxi.insist on something We insist on the highest standards of cleanliness in the hotel.insist on/upon doing something He insisted upon checking everything himself.3if you insist spoken used when agreeing to do something that you do not really want to do: ‘Why don’t you call them up today?’ ‘Oh, if you insist!’4 insist on doing something to keep doing something, especially something that is inconvenient or annoying: She will insist on washing her hair just when I want to have a bath.GRAMMAR: Patterns with insist• You insist on something: · She insists on her own bedroom.• You insist on doing something: · She insists on having her own bedroom. ✗Don’t say: She insists her own bedroom.• In everyday English, you insist that someone does something: · I insist that he waits.• In formal English, you insist that someone do something, using the base form of the verb (=infinitive without ‘to’): · I insist that he wait.• You use the base form of the verb when talking about the past: · I insisted that he wait. In everyday English, people also say: · I insisted that he waited.• You insist that someone should do something: · They insisted that I should join them. This pattern is often used in the past, when reporting what someone has insisted.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSinsist to say firmly that someone should do something or that something should happen: · She insisted that it was her turn to drive.demand to say very strongly and sometimes angrily that you want something or that something must happen: · I wrote a letter to the company, demanding an apology and a refund.· The guards demanded to see her ID.require [usually passive] formal if you are required to do something, a rule or law says that you must do it: · The successful applicant will be required to sign a two-year contract.be adamant to say very firmly that something must happen or is right, and refuse to change your mind when other people try to persuade you: · The actress has always been adamant about keeping her private life private.won’t take no for an answer informal to insist that someone must do what you say or ask: · You’re coming home with me – I won’t take no for an answer.put your foot down to say very firmly that someone must not do something: · Ed was talking about dropping out of school, but Mom and Dad put their foot down.- stereotypical
- stereotypically
- stereotyping
- sterile
- sterility
- sterilization
- sterilize
- sterilizer
- sterling
- stern
- Sterne, Laurence
- Stern, Howard
- Stern, Isaac
- sternly
- sternness
- sternum
- steroid
- stethoscope
- Stetson
- stevedore
- Stevenson, Adlai
- Stevenson, Robert Louis
- Stevens Report
- Stevens, Thaddeus
- Stevens, Wallace