perpetual

[per-pech-oo-uhl]

adjective

1. continuing or enduring forever; everlasting.

   Synonyms: enduring, permanent
   Antonyms: temporary

2. lasting an indefinitely long time.

   perpetual snow.

3. continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless.

   a perpetual stream of visitors all day.

   Synonyms: uninterrupted, unending, constant, incessant, continuous
   Antonyms: discontinuous

4. blooming almost continuously throughout the season or the year.

noun

1. a hybrid rose that is perpetual.

2. a perennial plant.

perpetual

/ 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

1. (of a crop plant) continually producing edible parts: perpetual spinach

2. a plant that blooms throughout the growing season

Other Word Forms

• perpetually adverb
• perpetuality noun
• perpetualness noun
• nonperpetual adjective
• quasi-perpetual adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetual¹

First recorded in 1300–50; late Middle English perpetuall, from Latin perpetuālis “permanent, universal, general,” equivalent to perpetu(us) “continuous, uninterrupted” ( per- “through, thoroughly” + pet-, base of petere “to seek, reach for” + -uus adjective suffix derived from a verb) + -ālis adjective suffix; replacing Middle English perpetuel, from Middle French, from Latin as above; per-, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetual¹

C14: via Old French from Latin perpetuālis universal, from perpes continuous, from per- (thoroughly) + petere to go towards

Synonym Study

See eternal.

Example Sentences

For most of the Padres’ first half-century, the club was mired in perpetual mediocrity.

From Los Angeles Times

Shell said he didn’t want Paramount to become a company that had perpetual layoffs, saying the plan was to have one restructuring and “then be done with it.”

From Los Angeles Times

"It was a lot of physical therapy. It was a lot of being in a state of perpetual discomfort," she said.

From BBC

“There’s this perpetual challenge for automakers trying to price EVs competitively, at a compelling price point that average people would go and buy them,” said Brauer, the analyst.

From Los Angeles Times

We are seeing more evidence of the president’s perpetual election neurosis in the run-up to the 2026 midterms.

From Salon

Related Words

• ceaseless 
• constant 
• continued 
• continuous 
• endless 
• enduring 
• eternal 
• incessant 
• infinite 
• interminable 
• never-ending 
• perennial 
• permanent 
• persistent 
• recurring 
• unceasing 
• unending