What does incessant mean?
Word: Incessant
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Incessant means going on and on without a pause, often in a way that annoys people.
Synonyms: constant, endless
How do you spell incessant?
Syllables: in - ces - sant
Tricky part: The ending is a weak sound when spoken, so pupils often write ent where the word needs ant.
Watch out for: incessent, incessint
Memory tip: Picture a line of ants that never stops marching: this word ends with an ant.
Incessant in a sentence
Example 1: The incessant rain kept the cricket team indoors for three days.
Example 2: My little brother's incessant questions made the long train ride feel even longer.
Example 3: The incessant hum of the old fan slowly sent Noah to sleep.
Fun Fact
The word comes from Latin words meaning not stopping. English speakers have used it for centuries, most often about things they wish would stop, such as noise, rain or chatter.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
i_c_ssant
a) n, i
b) n, a
c) m, e
d) n, e
Show answer
d) n, e. The word opens like the little word in, and the middle beat has the same vowel as bed.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The incesant chatter from the back row made it hard to hear the speaker at the prize ceremony.
a) incesant
b) speaker
c) ceremony
d) chatter
Show answer
a) incesant. The middle needs two of the same letter, as in the word lesson.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) spontanious
b) incessant
c) obediant
d) conscientous
Show answer
b) incessant. Obedient ends in ent, conscientious has an i before its ous, and spontaneous has an e before its ous.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
incessant
a) relentless
b) tiresome
c) intermittent
d) persistent
Show answer
c) intermittent. Something intermittent stops and starts, unlike rain that never lets up.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is the best example of something incessant?
a) a single clap of thunder
b) a short shower before lunch
c) a tap dripping all night long
d) a bell ringing once at noon
Show answer
c) a tap dripping all night long
2. After a week of incessant drilling from the building site next door, the neighbours probably felt ____.
a) proud and cheerful
b) calm and well rested
c) curious and excited
d) worn out and irritated
Show answer
d) worn out and irritated
