: continuing indefinitely in time without interruption
continual fear
2
: recurring in steady usually rapid succession
a history of continual invasions
Did you know?
Since the mid-19th century, many grammarians have drawn a distinction between continual and continuous. Continual should only mean "occurring at regular intervals," they insist, whereas continuous should be used to mean "continuing without interruption." This distinction overlooks the fact that continual is the older word and was used with both meanings for centuries before continuous appeared on the scene. Today, continual is the more likely of the two to mean "recurring," but it also continues to be used, as it has been since the 14th century, with the meaning "continuing without interruption."
continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.
continual showers the whole weekend
continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension.
football's oldest continuous rivalry
constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence.
lived in constant pain
incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity.
annoyed by the incessant quarreling
perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration.
a land of perpetual snowfall
perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal.
a perennial source of controversy
Example Sentences
This week we experienced days of continual sunshine. The country has been in a continual state of war since it began fighting for its independence. The continual interruptions by the student were annoying the teacher.
Recent Examples on the WebThe most obvious sign that electric vehicles are coming, ready or not, has been from the huge and continual growth in sales. James Morris, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2022 Indeed, Brook lived and worked in a continual state of becoming. Charles Mcnultytheater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2022 One thing has helped consumers relate to Ken is his dedication to continual learning.Outside Online, 16 Nov. 2021 The history of morality can, to some extent, be told as a tale of continual outward expansions of the circle of moral concern, from family to tribe to nation and, eventually, to all of humanity.Wired, 13 Aug. 2022 That video represented nine minutes and 14 seconds in seven years of continual and unnecessary trauma for MJ — and a lifetime of abuse for her tiny sister — while Bishops Herrod and Mauzy and church representatives in Salt Lake City stood by. Michael Rezendes, The Arizona Republic, 4 Aug. 2022 That video represented nine minutes and 14 seconds in seven years of continual and unnecessary trauma for MJ — and a lifetime of abuse for her tiny sister — while Bishops Herrod and Mauzy and church representatives in Salt Lake City stood by.The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Aug. 2022 It’s a continual series of 47 named rapids, with many classified as IV and IV+. Rhonda Abrams, USA TODAY, 27 July 2022 Because the Donbas borders Russia, a continual feed of ordnance has sustained the onslaught. Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 23 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English continuel, borrowed from Anglo-French, probably from continucontinuous + -el, going back to Latin -ālis-al entry 1