To be determined means to have a strong sense of purpose that keeps you going even when things get difficult. A determined student keeps studying for the spelling bee even after getting words wrong in practice. A determined athlete keeps training even when muscles ache and progress feels slow.

Determination is the quality that makes you stick with a goal when obstacles appear, when you feel discouraged, or when quitting would be easier. Think of a scientist conducting experiment after experiment, facing failure after failure, yet continuing because she believes in finding an answer. That's determination.

When you're determined to learn piano, you've made a firm decision and won't let setbacks change your mind. When someone shows determination, they refuse to give up on what matters to them.

People sometimes confuse determination with stubbornness, but there's a difference. Stubbornness means refusing to change even when you should. Determination means committing to a worthy goal and persisting intelligently toward it. A determined person might adjust their approach when something isn't working, but they don't abandon their goal at the first sign of trouble.