continual

adjective

con·tin·u·al kən-ˈtin-yü-əl How to pronounce continual (audio)

-yəl

: continuing indefinitely in time without interruption

continual fear

: recurring in steady usually rapid succession

a history of continual invasions

Did you know?

Since the mid-19th century, many grammarians have drawn a distinction between continual and continuous. Continual should only mean "occurring at regular intervals," they insist, whereas continuous should be used to mean "continuing without interruption." This distinction overlooks the fact that continual is the older word and was used with both meanings for centuries before continuous appeared on the scene. Today, continual is the more likely of the two to mean "recurring," but it also continues to be used, as it has been since the 14th century, with the meaning "continuing without interruption."

Example Sentences

This week we experienced days of continual sunshine. The country has been in a continual state of war since it began fighting for its independence. The continual interruptions by the student were annoying the teacher.

Recent Examples on the Web The most obvious sign that electric vehicles are coming, ready or not, has been from the huge and continual growth in sales.

James Morris, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2022 Indeed, Brook lived and worked in a continual state of becoming.

Charles Mcnultytheater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2022 One thing has helped consumers relate to Ken is his dedication to continual learning.

Outside Online, 16 Nov. 2021 The history of morality can, to some extent, be told as a tale of continual outward expansions of the circle of moral concern, from family to tribe to nation and, eventually, to all of humanity.

Wired, 13 Aug. 2022 That video represented nine minutes and 14 seconds in seven years of continual and unnecessary trauma for MJ — and a lifetime of abuse for her tiny sister — while Bishops Herrod and Mauzy and church representatives in Salt Lake City stood by.

Michael Rezendes, The Arizona Republic, 4 Aug. 2022 That video represented nine minutes and 14 seconds in seven years of continual and unnecessary trauma for MJ — and a lifetime of abuse for her tiny sister — while Bishops Herrod and Mauzy and church representatives in Salt Lake City stood by.

The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Aug. 2022 It’s a continual series of 47 named rapids, with many classified as IV and IV+.

Rhonda Abrams, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022 Because the Donbas borders Russia, a continual feed of ordnance has sustained the onslaught.

Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 23 July 2022 See More

continual

adjective

as in continuous

going on and on without any interruptions the castaways hoped that the continual broadcast of the distress signal would eventually attract attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

continuous
continued
continuing
incessant
nonstop
constant
uninterrupted
unceasing
perpetual
unremitting
ceaseless
unbroken
running
persistent
unending
permanent
endless
steady
eternal
interminable
enduring
lasting
everlasting
unvarying
undying
deathless
immortal
unchanging
durable
changeless
stable
indestructible
imperishable
dateless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

periodic
recurrent
discontinuous
intermittent
occasional
periodical
seasonal
rhythmic
cyclic
cyclical
serial
alternate
noncontinuous
recurring
rhythmical
sporadic
spasmodic
erratic
irregular
alternating
unsteady
fitful
spotty

as in recurrent

occurring or appearing at intervals a history of continual invasions from countries to the west

Synonyms & Similar Words

recurrent
recurring
periodic
intermittent
periodical
occasional
seasonal
alternating
on-and-off
rhythmic
sporadic
serial
cyclic
alternate
rhythmical
spasmodic
cyclical
fitful
erratic
irregular
aperiodic
spotty
unsteady

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

continuous
constant
incessant
unceasing
perpetual
eternal
everlasting
interminable

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of continual are constant, continuous, incessant, perennial, and perpetual. While all these words mean "characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence," continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.

continual showers the whole weekend

While in some cases nearly identical to continual, constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence.

lived in constant pain

The meanings of continuous and continual largely overlap; however, continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension.

football's oldest continuous rivalry

The words incessant and continual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity.

annoyed by the incessant quarreling

Although the words perennial and continual have much in common, perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal.

a perennial source of controversy

The synonyms perpetual and continual are sometimes interchangeable, but perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration.

a land of perpetual snowfall

单词	continual
释义	continual adjective con·tin·u·al kən-ˈtin-yü-əl -yəl 1 : continuing indefinitely in time without interruption continual fear 2 : recurring in steady usually rapid succession a history of continual invasions Did you know? Since the mid-19th century, many grammarians have drawn a distinction between continual and continuous. Continual should only mean "occurring at regular intervals," they insist, whereas continuous should be used to mean "continuing without interruption." This distinction overlooks the fact that continual is the older word and was used with both meanings for centuries before continuous appeared on the scene. Today, continual is the more likely of the two to mean "recurring," but it also continues to be used, as it has been since the 14th century, with the meaning "continuing without interruption." Synonyms ceaseless continued continuing continuous incessant nonstop perpetual running unbroken unceasing uninterrupted unremitting See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences This week we experienced days of continual sunshine. The country has been in a continual state of war since it began fighting for its independence. The continual interruptions by the student were annoying the teacher. Recent Examples on the Web The most obvious sign that electric vehicles are coming, ready or not, has been from the huge and continual growth in sales. James Morris, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2022 Indeed, Brook lived and worked in a continual state of becoming. Charles Mcnultytheater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2022 One thing has helped consumers relate to Ken is his dedication to continual learning. Outside Online, 16 Nov. 2021 The history of morality can, to some extent, be told as a tale of continual outward expansions of the circle of moral concern, from family to tribe to nation and, eventually, to all of humanity. Wired, 13 Aug. 2022 That video represented nine minutes and 14 seconds in seven years of continual and unnecessary trauma for MJ — and a lifetime of abuse for her tiny sister — while Bishops Herrod and Mauzy and church representatives in Salt Lake City stood by. Michael Rezendes, The Arizona Republic, 4 Aug. 2022 That video represented nine minutes and 14 seconds in seven years of continual and unnecessary trauma for MJ — and a lifetime of abuse for her tiny sister — while Bishops Herrod and Mauzy and church representatives in Salt Lake City stood by. The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Aug. 2022 It’s a continual series of 47 named rapids, with many classified as IV and IV+. Rhonda Abrams, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022 Because the Donbas borders Russia, a continual feed of ordnance has sustained the onslaught. Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 23 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English continuel, borrowed from Anglo-French, probably from continu continuous + -el, going back to Latin -ālis -al entry 1 First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition continual adjective con·tin·u·al kən-ˈtin-yə-wəl 1 : going on or lasting without stopping On every side there rose a continual chattering. Robert Lawson, Rabbit Hill 2 : occurring again and again within short periods of time Your continual interruptions are annoying. continual adjective 1 as in continuous going on and on without any interruptions the castaways hoped that the continual broadcast of the distress signal would eventually attract attention Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance continuous continued continuing incessant nonstop constant uninterrupted unceasing perpetual unremitting ceaseless unbroken running persistent unending permanent endless steady eternal interminable enduring lasting everlasting unvarying undying deathless immortal unchanging durable changeless stable indestructible imperishable dateless Antonyms & Near Antonyms periodic recurrent discontinuous intermittent occasional periodical seasonal rhythmic cyclic cyclical serial alternate noncontinuous recurring rhythmical sporadic spasmodic erratic irregular alternating unsteady fitful spotty See More 2 as in recurrent occurring or appearing at intervals a history of continual invasions from countries to the west Synonyms & Similar Words recurrent recurring periodic intermittent periodical occasional seasonal alternating on-and-off rhythmic sporadic serial cyclic alternate rhythmical spasmodic cyclical fitful erratic irregular aperiodic spotty unsteady Antonyms & Near Antonyms continuous constant incessant unceasing perpetual eternal everlasting interminable See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of continual are constant, continuous, incessant, perennial, and perpetual. While all these words mean "characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence," continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence. continual showers the whole weekend While in some cases nearly identical to continual, constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence. lived in constant pain The meanings of continuous and continual largely overlap; however, continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension. football's oldest continuous rivalry The words incessant and continual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity. annoyed by the incessant quarreling Although the words perennial and continual have much in common, perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal. a perennial source of controversy The synonyms perpetual and continual are sometimes interchangeable, but perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration. a land of perpetual snowfall
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continual

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser