Meaning & use
perseverating
Last updated
Repeating a word, action, or thought persistently, often as a result of a psychological or neurological condition.
See it in a sentence
The therapist noted that the patient kept perseverating on the same worry throughout the session.
Children with certain developmental conditions may perseverate on a single topic for long periods.
A note on using this word
Perseverate is a clinical and psychological term and shouldn't be confused with 'persevere,' which means to keep trying despite difficulty.
Words with a similar meaning
repeatingdwelling
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “perseverating”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.