- [usually before noun]
continuing for a long period of time without stopping or being interrupted synonym continuous不間斷的;持續的;長久的 the perpetual noise of traffic 持續不斷的交通噪聲 We lived for years in a perpetual state of fear. 多年來我們一直生活在恐懼中。 - (literary)
mountain peaks covered with perpetual snows and ice 覆蓋着永久冰雪的山峰
Extra ExamplesTopics Timec2Government and parliament are in a state of perpetual conflict. 政府和議會處於長期沖突狀態。 His life is a perpetual holiday. 他的生活是一個永久的假期。 Lack of time is a perpetual problem for nurses on the ward. 對在病房工作的護士來說,時間不夠是個長期問題。 The country seems to be in a perpetual state of chaos. 該國似乎永遠都處於混亂的狀態。 They exist in a state of perpetual fear. 他們一直生活在恐懼之中。
- [usually before noun]
frequently repeated, in a way that is annoying synonym continual一再反複的;無盡無休的;沒完沒了的 Extra ExamplesThe perpetual interruptions made conversation difficult. 不斷的打擾讓談話難以繼續下去。 People found her perpetual coarse jokes irritating. 人們覺得她沒完沒了的粗俗笑話令人惱火。
- [only before noun]
(of a job or position )工作或職位 lasting for the whole of somebody’s life 終身的;永久的
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French perpetuel, from Latin perpetualis, from perpetuus ‘continuing throughout’, from perpes, perpet- ‘continuous’.