Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb persist

3 senses of persist

Sense 1
prevail, persist, die hard, run, endure -- (continue to exist; "These stories die hard"; "The legend of Elvis endures")
       => continue -- (exist over a prolonged period of time; "The bad weather continued for two more weeks")

Sense 2
persevere, persist, hang in, hang on, hold on -- (be persistent, refuse to stop; "he persisted to call me every night"; "The child persisted and kept asking questions")
       => continue, uphold, carry on, bear on, preserve -- (keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last; "preserve the peace in the family"; "continue the family tradition"; "Carry on the old traditions")

Sense 3
persist, remain, stay -- (stay behind; "The smell stayed in the room"; "The hostility remained long after they made up")