What does “perpetual” mean?
- 1
adjectivenever ending or changing; lasting forever
The mountain peaks are covered in perpetual snow.
- 2
adjectivehappening so often that it seems to never stop, often annoyingly
I’m tired of their perpetual complaints.
Perpetual at a glance
- Part of speech
- adjective
- CEFR level
- C1 (advanced)
- Pronunciation
- /pɚˈpɛtʃuəl/ · per-PECH-oo-ul
How to use “perpetual” correctly
Often used with mild exaggeration to describe something irritating that keeps happening.
Common phrases with “perpetual”
- perpetual motion
- a perpetual state of
- perpetual fear
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- constant
- endless
- continual
Word family
- perpetually
- perpetuate
“perpetual” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- enduring adjectiveC1lasting for a long time
- constant adjectiveB2happening all the time or again and again
- ensue verbC2to happen after or as a result of something
- tarry verbC2(old-fashioned) to stay somewhere longer than planned or to delay leaving
- current adjectiveB1happening or existing now
- former adjectiveB1having been a particular thing in the past, but not now
- recent adjectiveB1having happened or started only a short time ago
- throughout prepositionB2in every part of a place