A continual process or situation happens or exists without stopping.
The school has been in continual use since 1883.
They felt continual pressure to perform well.
Despite continual pain, he refused all drugs.
Synonyms: constant, endless, continuous, eternal More Synonyms of continual
continuallyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
She cried almost continually and threw temper tantrums.
The large rotating fans whirred continually.
Synonyms: repeatedly, often, frequently, many times More Synonyms of continual
Synonyms: constantly, always, all the time, forever More Synonyms of continual
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Continual events happen again and again.
...the government's continual demands for cash to finance its chronic deficit.
She suffered continual police harassment.
Synonyms: frequent, regular, repeated, repetitive More Synonyms of continual
continuallyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
Malcolm was continually changing his mind.
I had been writing him continually, trying to get him to call me.
Synonyms: repeatedly, often, frequently, many times More Synonyms of continual
continual in British English
(kənˈtɪnjʊəl)
adjective
1.
recurring frequently, esp at regular intervals
2.
occurring without interruption; continuous in time
▶ USAGE See note at continuous
Derived forms
continuality (conˌtinuˈality) or continualness (conˈtinualness)
noun
continually (conˈtinually)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Old French continuel, from Latin continuus uninterrupted, from continēre to hold together, contain
continual in American English
(kənˈtɪnjuəl)
adjective
1.
happening over and over again; repeated often; going on in rapid succession
2.
going on uninterruptedly; continuous
SYNONYMY NOTE: continual applies to that which recurs repeatedly or goes on unceasingly over a long periodof time [continual arguments]; continuous applies to that which extends without interruption in either space or time [a continuous expanse]; constant stresses uniformity, steadiness, or regularity in occurrence or recurrence [the constant beat of the heart]; incessant implies unceasing or uninterrupted activity [incessant chatter]; perpetual applies to that which lasts or persists for an indefinitely long time [a perpetual nuisance]; eternal stresses endlessness or timelessness [the eternal verities]
OPPOSITES: intermittent, interrupted
Derived forms
continually (conˈtinually)
adverb
Word origin
ME continuel < OFr < L continuus: see continue
Examples of 'continual' in a sentence
continual
Over the past weeks, against a backdrop of almost continual attacks, we have been getting on with the business of the inquiry.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Part of the continual struggle against boredom and insignificance.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The expectation this season is for continual improvement.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The aim was a continual improvement in quality on the assembly line.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Competition led to continual improvement of the machines and kept prices within the reach of most farmers.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
They ask questions about our supply chain and through this kind of process you do get continual improvement.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We all need to reflect on the huge amount of wasted potential as disabled people struggle against continual discrimination and barriers.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And many more feel both these perspectives at the same time and are in a continual struggle to reconcile the two.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We are seeking continual improvement, with no specific target.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The continual improvement of productivity is one of management's most important jobs.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
From there on in, it was an almost continual diet of porridge.
Richard Bath Notorious: The Maddest and Baddest Sportsmen on the Planet (2006)
It was bad enough on the pitch for England players trying to stem the almost continual tide of Papua attacks.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
continual
British English: continual /kənˈtɪnjʊəl/ ADJECTIVE
Continual means happening without stopping, or happening again and again.
The team has had almost continual success since last year.