To persevere means to keep trying even when something is difficult, frustrating, or taking a long time. When you persevere, you don't give up just because the work is hard or you haven't succeeded yet.

Think of learning to ride a bike. At first, you wobble, lose your balance, and maybe fall a few times. Kids who persevere get back on the bike and try again, adjusting their balance each time. Eventually, after days or weeks of practice, riding becomes natural. Kids who don't persevere give up after the first few falls and never learn.

When you persevere through a challenge, you're showing determination and patience. A scientist might persevere through hundreds of failed experiments before making a breakthrough. A student might persevere with a difficult math concept, working through extra practice problems until it finally clicks.

Perseverance doesn't mean being stubborn about the wrong approach. Someone who perseveres is willing to learn from mistakes and try new strategies, but they don't abandon their goal. The opposite of persevering is quitting or giving up at the first sign of difficulty.