1. to continue to exist or occur over a prolonged period
2. to continue firmly or obstinately in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or failure

Examples

• The rain persists despite the weather forecast.
• She persists in her belief that the project will succeed.
• The problem persists even after multiple attempts to fix it.
• He persists in asking the same question over and over.
• The tradition persists in many rural communities.
• The athlete persists through pain and exhaustion.
• The smell of smoke persists in the house.