perpetual

adjective

per·​pet·​u·​al pər-ˈpe-chə-wəl How to pronounce perpetual (audio)
-chəl;
-ˈpech-wəl
Synonyms of perpetual
1
a
: continuing forever : everlasting
perpetual motion
b(1)
: valid for all time
a perpetual right
(2)
: holding something (such as an office) for life or for an unlimited time
2
: occurring continually : indefinitely long-continued
perpetual problems
3
: blooming continuously throughout the season

Synonyms of perpetual

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continual, continuous, constant, incessant, perpetual, perennial mean characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence.

continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.

continual showers the whole weekend

continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension.

football's oldest continuous rivalry

constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence.

lived in constant pain

incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity.

annoyed by the incessant quarreling

perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration.

a land of perpetual snowfall

perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal.

a perennial source of controversy

Examples of perpetual in a Sentence

As always, I was struck by how the core values of the military—service and discipline, both physical and intellectual—are so different from the perpetual American Mardi Gras. —Joe Klein, Time, 29 Aug. 2005
Because Hunter had been a perpetual Peter Pan, accepting the bleak reality of his death came hard. —Douglas Brinkley, Rolling Stone, 22 Sept. 2005
He's addicted to the perpetual flux of the information networks. He craves his next data fix. He's a speed freak, an info junkie. —David Brooks, Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2001
Only after I had built to the emotional peroration culminating in the word "astonishing" was I at last sufficiently unastonished by the force of my feelings to be able to put together a couple of hours of sleep—or something resembling sleep, for, even half out of it, I was a biography in perpetual motion, memory to the marrow of my bones. —Philip Roth, American Pastoral, 1997
The region is in a state of perpetual war. He seems to have a perpetual grin on his face. the perpetual demands of parenthood
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here, the perpetual journey leaves infinite imprints with travelers. — Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 With the rapid growth of crypto asset derivatives, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, recently approved select platforms to offer perpetual futures products. — CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Seneca said the renaming violated the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, which was signed by President George Washington and the Haudenosaunee confederacy promising perpetual peace and friendship. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Quarreling over who should be taxed is one of California’s perpetual political games. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perpetual

Word History

Etymology

Middle English perpetuel, from Anglo-French, from Latin perpetuus uninterrupted, from per- through + petere to go to — more at feather

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of perpetual was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing perpetual

Browse Nearby Words

perpetrator
perpetual
perpetual adoration
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perpetual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perpetual. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

perpetual

adjective
per·​pet·​u·​al pər-ˈpech-(ə-)wəl How to pronounce perpetual (audio)
-ˈpech-əl
1
: continuing forever : everlasting
2
: occurring continually : constant
perpetually
-ē
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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