Perennial
mediumNeutral tonepuh-REN-ee-ul
adjective
Definition
Lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring
Memory hook
PER-ANNUAL: persisting THROUGH every YEAR — like perennial flowers that keep coming back.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“Poverty remains a perennial problem in many regions.”
“The perennial favorite won the competition again.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“Poverty remains a ______ problem in many regions.”
Show answer
perennial
Categories
GRE Tip
Perennial is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "enduring" or "perpetual" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "ephemeral".
Related GRE Words
abiding
Lasting for a long time; enduring and unchanging
eternal
Lasting or existing forever; without end
permanent
Lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely
enduring
Lasting over a period of time; durable
transient
Lasting only for a short time; temporary
dogged
Having or showing tenacity and persistence
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