Basic Details
Word: Perseverance
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The quality of continuing to try to do something even when it is difficult or takes a long time.
Synonyms: persistence, determination, grit
Antonyms: laziness, giving up
How to Spell Perseverance
Syllables: per - se - ver - ance
Tricky part: Students add an r after the first se (perserverance). Persevere also drops its last e and takes ance, not ence.
Watch out for: perserverance, perseverence, persevirance
Memory tip: Look for the word sever in the middle: per-SEVER-ance. Even when you feel like severing your effort, keep going - and notice the middle is sever, not server.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Learning the tabla took years of perseverance, but now Arjun plays at temple festivals.
Example 2: The coach said that talent helps, but perseverance wins matches.
Example 3: It took real perseverance to finish the jigsaw of the Taj Mahal with all those white pieces.
Fun Fact
NASA's Mars rover Perseverance landed in Jezero Crater on 18 February 2021. Its name was suggested by Alexander Mather, a seventh-grade student from the USA, in a naming contest.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to complete the word:
pers_v_r_nce
a) e, e, e
b) e, e, a
c) e, a, e
d) i, e, a
Show answer
b) e, e, a. Persevere gives the two e's, and its noun takes ance.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. perserverance 2. vigilance 3. tolerance 4. eloquence
a) continued effort to achieve something in spite of difficulties
b) the skill of speaking well and persuasively
c) careful watchfulness for danger
d) willingness to accept views different from your own
Show answer
a) continued effort to achieve something in spite of difficulties. Eloquence, vigilance and tolerance are spelt correctly; perseverance has sever, not server, in the middle, so its meaning is the answer.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word perseverance as it is used in the sentence:
Her perseverance through six months of physiotherapy helped her walk without a stick again.
a) kindness
b) persistence
c) laziness
d) cleverness
Show answer
b) persistence. Both words describe sticking at a hard task; laziness is the opposite.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which verb is the noun perseverance formed from?
a) perceive
b) persevere
c) persuade
d) preserve
Show answer
b) persevere
2. Which situation shows perseverance?
a) copying a friend's homework
b) giving up a puzzle after a minute
c) practising a song daily for months
d) skipping practice when it rains
Show answer
c) practising a song daily for months
