Cool MatePersist vs Remain
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Persist
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Remain
Top 1,000 (very common)B1
Most common: Remain
| Persist | Remain | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //pəˈsɪst//🇺🇸 //pərˈsɪst// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmeɪn/","/rɪˈmeɪnz/","/rɪˈmeɪnd/","/rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmeɪn/","/rɪˈmeɪnz/","/rɪˈmeɪnd/","/rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To keep trying despite difficulties or obstacles. | To stay in the same place or condition. |
| Example | Despite numerous setbacks, she decided to persist with her research project. | Please remain silent during the presentation. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | persist in doing something, persist with a plan, persist through challenges | remain calm, remain silent, remain in place, remain unchanged, remain focused |
| Antonyms | give up, quit, yield | leave, depart, exit |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'insist' - both imply persistence but have different uses., Incorrect verb form - it's 'persisted' for past tense, not 'persisted' for plural subjects., Omitting subject pronoun is common in informal speech. | Confused with 'stay' - 'remain' feels slightly more formal., Used incorrectly in passive constructions., Misplaced in sentences where a continuous tense is needed. |
| Usage notes | Use 'persist' when you want to express determination to continue with an action. It can apply to personal efforts, research, or legislative processes. Avoid using it in casual contexts where simpler words like 'hang on' might be more appropriate. | Use 'remain' in both written and spoken English. It's suitable for formal contexts, like reports or discussions, but also works in everyday conversation. Avoid using it in casual slang as it sounds too formal. |
Frequently asked questions: Persist vs Remain
What's the difference between Persist and Remain?
Persist: To keep trying despite difficulties or obstacles. Remain: To stay in the same place or condition.
Which is more common: Persist and Remain?
Remain is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Persist and Remain?
Persist is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Persist and Remain the same CEFR level?
Persist: C1, Remain: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Persist: Despite numerous setbacks, she decided to persist with her research project. Remain: Please remain silent during the presentation.
Can I use Persist and Remain interchangeably?
Not always. Persist and Remain 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.