A perpetual feeling, state, or quality is one that never ends or changes.
...the creation of a perpetual union.
perpetuallyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
They were all perpetually starving.
They would be compelled to live perpetually as second-class citizens.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A perpetual act, situation, or state is one that happens again and again and so seems never to end.
I thought her perpetual complaints were going to prove too much for me.
perpetuallyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
...a perpetually renewed miracle.
He perpetually interferes in political affairs.
More Synonyms of perpetual
perpetual in British English
(pəˈpɛtjʊəl)
adjective
1. (usually prenominal)
eternal; permanent
2. (usually prenominal)
seemingly ceaseless because often repeated
your perpetual complaints
3. horticulture
blooming throughout the growing season or year
noun
4.
(of a crop plant) continually producing edible parts: perpetual spinach
5.
a plant that blooms throughout the growing season
Derived forms
perpetually (perˈpetually)
adverb
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin perpetuālis universal, from perpes continuous, from per- (thoroughly) + petere to go towards
perpetual in American English
(pərˈpɛtʃuəl)
adjective
1.
lasting or enduring forever or for an indefinitely long time; eternal; permanent
2.
continuing indefinitely without interruption; unceasing; constant
a perpetual nuisance
3.
blooming continuously throughout the growing season
noun
4.
a perpetual plant; esp., a variety of perpetual hybrid rose
SIMILAR WORDS: conˈtinual
Derived forms
perpetually (perˈpetually)
adverb
Word origin
ME perpetuel < OFr < L perpetualis < perpetuus, constant < perpes (gen. perpetis), continuous < per-, through + petere, to strive, rush at, fall: see feather
Examples of 'perpetual' in a sentence
perpetual
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
In some places the perpetual conflict is unavoidable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
From the age of 13 onwards he was in perpetual conflict with his mother.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Its shiny silver leaves look as if they've been sprayed with paint, and in summer it has almost perpetual twisted white flowers with a pink tinge.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Its courts struggle with a perpetual backlog.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You would need a perpetual motion machine to do it!
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Building a perpetual motion machine would have been easier.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Aggreko looks increasingly like some sort of implausible perpetual motion machine.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Sow chard and perpetual spinach this month to crop through the winter and well into spring next year.
The Sun (2015)
Put them together, and you have a perpetual motion machine.
Larry Downes THE STRATEGY MACHINE (2002)
Just when this perpetual motion machine will run down is anyone's guess.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He's a perpetual political motion machine.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But his tone hints at a weariness with the film industry's perpetual publicity machine.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He worked with the political officers in the colonial services whose task was to broker peace negotiations to end the perpetual clan conflicts.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
If all of life is involved in a perpetual struggle to survive and reproduce, then evolution places a value on conflict.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The book is engaged in a perpetual struggle for survival (it always wins).
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
It really does look like a perpetual motion machine, doesn't it?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
perpetual
British English: perpetual ADJECTIVE
A perpetual feeling, state, or quality is one that never ends or changes.
...the creation of a perpetual union.
American English: perpetual
Brazilian Portuguese: perpétuo
Chinese: 永恒的
European Spanish: perpetuo
French: perpétuel
German: dauerhaft
Italian: perpetuo
Japanese: 永久の
Korean: 영구적인
European Portuguese: perpétuo
Latin American Spanish: perpetuo
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'perpetual'
perpetual check
a consecutive series of checks that the checked player cannot avoid , leading to a drawn game
perpetual calendar
a calendar mathematically arranged so that the correct day of the week can be determined for any given date over a wide range of years
perpetual motion
The idea of perpetual motion is the idea of something continuing to move for ever without getting energy from anything else.
perpetual spinach
a variety of spinach that keeps producing edible leaves
perpetual debenture
a bond or debenture that can either never be redeemed or cannot be redeemed on demand
perpetual inventory
a form of stock control in which running records are kept of all acquisitions and disposals
perpetual motion of the first kind
motion of a hypothetical mechanism that continues indefinitely without any external source of energy. It is impossible in practice because of friction
perpetual motion of the second kind
motion of a hypothetical mechanism that derives its energy from a source at a lower temperature . It is impossible in practice because of the second law of thermodynamics
1 (adjective)
Definition
never ending or never changing
the regions of perpetual night at the lunar poles
Synonyms
everlasting
The icon embodies a potent symbol of everlasting life.
permanent
Wear earplugs to avoid causing permanent damage.
endless
eternal
the quest for eternal youth
lasting
She left a lasting impression on him.
enduring
Their chance meeting was the start of an enduring friendship.
abiding
one of my abiding memories of him
perennial
the perennial urban problems of drugs and homelessness
infinite
There is an infinite number of atoms.
immortal
Wuthering Heights – that immortal love story
never-ending
unending
the country's seemingly unending cycle of political violence
unchanging
eternal and unchanging truths
undying
They declared their undying love for one another.
sempiternal (literary)
Opposites
passing
,
brief
,
temporary
,
fleeting
,
short-lived
,
momentary
,
ephemeral
,
transitory
,
impermanent
2 (adjective)
Definition
continually repeated
her perpetual complaints
Synonyms
continual
Despite continual pain, he refused all drugs.
repeated
Repeated absence from school is problem behavior.
constant
The frontier was a constant source of conflict.
endless
causing irreparable damage in a seemingly endless war
continuous
Residents reported that they heard continuous gunfire.
persistent
flooding caused by persistent rain
perennial
recurrent
never-ending
a never-ending lecture
uninterrupted
five years of rapid and uninterrupted growth
interminable
an interminable meeting
incessant
Incessant rain made conditions almost intolerable.
ceaseless
Their life is a ceaseless struggle for survival.
unremitting
boarding school, where I spent six years of unremitting misery
thanks to his unremitting efforts
unfailing
He continued to appear in the office with unfailing regularity.
unceasing
After a few minutes, I was plunged into unceasing activity.
Opposites
passing
,
brief
,
temporary
,
fleeting
,
short-lived
,
momentary
,
ephemeral
,
transitory
,
impermanent
Seeeternal
Synonyms of 'perpetual'
perpetual
Explore 'perpetual' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of continuous
Definition
not having any breaks or gaps in it
Residents reported that they heard continuous gunfire.
Synonyms
constant,
continued,
extended,
prolonged,
unbroken,
uninterrupted,
unceasing
in the sense of endless
Definition
having no end
causing irreparable damage in a seemingly endless war
Synonyms
eternal,
constant,
infinite,
perpetual,
continual,
immortal,
unbroken,
unlimited,
uninterrupted,
limitless,
interminable,
incessant,
boundless,
everlasting,
unending,
ceaseless,
inexhaustible,
undying,
unceasing,
unbounded,
measureless,
unfading,
Ndls
in the sense of enduring
Definition
long-lasting
Their chance meeting was the start of an enduring friendship.
Synonyms
long-lasting,
lasting,
living,
continuing,
remaining,
firm,
surviving,
permanent,
constant,
steady,
prevailing,
persisting,
abiding,
perennial,
durable,
immortal,
steadfast,
unwavering,
immovable,
imperishable,
unfaltering
in the sense of eternal
Definition
unchanged by time
the quest for eternal youth
Synonyms
everlasting,
lasting,
permanent,
enduring,
endless,
perennial,
perpetual,
timeless,
immortal,
unending,
unchanging,
immutable,
indestructible,
undying,
without end,
unceasing,
imperishable,
deathless,
sempiternal (literary)
in the sense of immortal
Definition
everlasting
Wuthering Heights – that immortal love story
Synonyms
timeless,
eternal,
everlasting,
lasting,
traditional,
classic,
constant,
enduring,
persistent,
abiding,
perennial,
ageless,
unfading
in the sense of incessant
Definition
never stopping
Incessant rain made conditions almost intolerable.
Synonyms
constant,
endless,
continuous,
persistent,
eternal,
relentless,
perpetual,
continual,
unbroken,
never-ending,
interminable,
unrelenting,
everlasting,
unending,
ceaseless,
unremitting,
nonstop,
unceasing
in the sense of infinite
Definition
having no limits or boundaries in time, space, extent, or size
There is an infinite number of atoms.
Synonyms
limitless,
endless,
unlimited,
eternal,
perpetual,
never-ending,
interminable,
boundless,
everlasting,
bottomless,
unending,
inexhaustible,
immeasurable,
without end,
unbounded,
numberless,
measureless,
illimitable,
without number
in the sense of interminable
Definition
seemingly endless because boring
an interminable meeting
Synonyms
endless,
long,
never-ending,
dragging,
unlimited,
infinite,
perpetual,
protracted,
limitless,
boundless,
everlasting,
ceaseless,
long-winded,
long-drawn-out,
immeasurable,
wearisome,
unbounded
in the sense of lasting
Definition
existing or remaining effective for a long time
She left a lasting impression on him.
Synonyms
continuing,
long-term,
permanent,
enduring,
remaining,
eternal,
abiding,
long-standing,
perennial,
lifelong,
durable,
perpetual,
long-lasting,
deep-rooted,
indelible,
unending,
undying,
unceasing
in the sense of never-ending
Definition
long and boring
a never-ending lecture
Synonyms
endless,
constant,
continuous,
persistent,
eternal,
relentless,
perpetual,
continual,
unbroken,
uninterrupted,
interminable,
incessant,
everlasting,
unchanging,
ceaseless,
unremitting,
nonstop,
unceasing,
boundless
Additional synonyms
in the sense of perennial
Definition
lasting throughout the year or through many years
the perennial urban problems of drugs and homelessness
Synonyms
continual,
lasting,
continuing,
permanent,
constant,
enduring,
chronic,
persistent,
abiding,
lifelong,
perpetual,
recurrent,
never-ending,
incessant,
unchanging,
inveterate
in the sense of permanent
Definition
existing or intended to exist forever
Wear earplugs to avoid causing permanent damage.
Synonyms
lasting,
fixed,
constant,
enduring,
persistent,
eternal,
abiding,
perennial,
durable,
perpetual,
everlasting,
unchanging,
immutable,
indestructible,
immovable,
invariable,
imperishable,
unfading
in the sense of persistent
Definition
unrelenting
flooding caused by persistent rain
Synonyms
continuous,
constant,
relentless,
lasting,
repeated,
endless,
perpetual,
continual,
never-ending,
interminable,
unrelenting,
incessant,
unremitting
in the sense of repeated
Repeated absence from school is problem behavior.
Synonyms
persistent,
constant,
relentless,
perpetual,
continual,
unrelenting,
incessant,
unremitting
in the sense of unceasing
Definition
continuing without a break
After a few minutes, I was plunged into unceasing activity.
Synonyms
continual,
constant,
incessant,
continuing,
endless,
continuous,
persistent,
perpetual,
never-ending,
unending,
ceaseless,
unremitting,
nonstop,
unfailing
in the sense of unchanging
eternal and unchanging truths
Synonyms
constant,
eternal,
perpetual,
lasting,
continuing,
permanent,
enduring,
unchanged,
abiding,
immutable,
imperishable,
unvarying,
changeless,
unfading
in the sense of undying
Definition
never ending
They declared their undying love for one another.
Synonyms
eternal,
everlasting,
perpetual,
continuing,
permanent,
constant,
perennial,
infinite,
unending,
indestructible,
undiminished,
imperishable,
deathless,
inextinguishable,
unfading,
sempiternal (literary)
in the sense of unending
Definition
not showing any signs of ever stopping
the country's seemingly unending cycle of political violence
Synonyms
perpetual,
constant,
endless,
eternal,
continual,
never-ending,
interminable,
incessant,
everlasting,
ceaseless,
unremitting,
unceasing
in the sense of unfailing
Definition
continuous or reliable
He continued to appear in the office with unfailing regularity.
Synonyms
continuous,
endless,
persistent,
unlimited,
continual,
never-failing,
boundless,
bottomless,
ceaseless,
inexhaustible,
unflagging
in the sense of uninterrupted
Definition
continuous, with no breaks or interruptions
five years of rapid and uninterrupted growth
Synonyms
continuous,
constant,
steady,
sustained,
continual,
unbroken,
undisturbed,
unending,
nonstop
Additional synonyms
in the sense of unremitting
Definition
never slackening or stopping
boarding school, where I spent six years of unremitting miserythanks to his unremitting efforts