Cool MateOngoing vs Persistent
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Ongoing
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Persistent
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
| Ongoing | Persistent | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɒnɡəʊɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɑːnɡəʊɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈsɪstənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈsɪstənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | still happening; continuing. | Continuing to do something despite difficulties. |
| Example | an ongoing debate/discussion/process | She showed persistent effort in completing the project despite numerous obstacles. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | ongoing project, ongoing discussion, ongoing debate, ongoing research, ongoing process | be, extremely, incredibly, really, be, extremely, incredibly, really |
| Antonyms | completed, finished, terminated | temporary, yielding, intermittent |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'ongoing' with 'on-going'., Using 'ongoing' in place of 'completed' or 'finished'. | Confusing with 'consistant' which means something different., Using 'persistent' in a positive context only; it can also refer to annoying behavior., Mispronouncing the word, especially the 's' sound. |
| Usage notes | Use 'ongoing' to describe events or situations that are currently in progress. It’s usually appropriate in both written and spoken contexts, but can be less formal than legal or academic settings. | Use 'persistent' in texts where determination or refusing to give up is highlighted. It's more appropriate in formal or neutral contexts, while not commonly used in casual conversation. |
Frequently asked questions: Ongoing vs Persistent
What's the difference between Ongoing and Persistent?
Ongoing: still happening; continuing. Persistent: Continuing to do something despite difficulties.
Are Ongoing and Persistent the same CEFR level?
Ongoing: B2, Persistent: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Ongoing and Persistent interchangeably?
Not always. Ongoing and Persistent are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.