continual
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continual
intermittent; often repeated: continual chiming of a clock
Not to be confused with:
continuous – uninterrupted in time: continuous ticking of a clock. [These words are often used without any distinction in meaning, as are continually and continuously. To make a clear distinction, use the contrasting terms intermittent and uninterrupted.]
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
con·tin·u·al
(kən-tĭn′yo͞o-əl)adj.
1. Recurring regularly or frequently: continual improvements in technology.
2. Not interrupted; steady: a process that requires continual monitoring.
con·tin′u·al·ly adv.
Synonyms: continual, continuous, ceaseless, constant, incessant, perpetual, eternal, perennial
These adjectives mean occurring without stopping or occurring repeatedly over a long period of time. Continual is often restricted to what is intermittent or repeated at intervals: The continual banging of the shutter in the wind gave me a headache. But it can also imply a lack of interruption, the focus of continuous and ceaseless: The fugitive was living in a state of continual fear. The police put the house under continuous surveillance. We listened to the ceaseless babble of the stream. Constant stresses steadiness or persistence and unvarying nature: The constant ticking of the clock lulled him to sleep. Incessant adds to constant the suggestion of annoying repetition: The dog's incessant barking kept him up all night. Perpetual emphasizes both steadiness and duration: One side of the moon is in perpetual darkness. Eternal refers to what is everlasting, especially to what is seemingly without temporal beginning or end: "That freedom can be retained only by the eternal vigilance which has always been its price" (Elmer Davis).
Perennial describes existence that goes on year after year, often with the suggestion of self-renewal: The candidates discussed the perennial problem of urban poverty.
These adjectives mean occurring without stopping or occurring repeatedly over a long period of time. Continual is often restricted to what is intermittent or repeated at intervals: The continual banging of the shutter in the wind gave me a headache. But it can also imply a lack of interruption, the focus of continuous and ceaseless: The fugitive was living in a state of continual fear. The police put the house under continuous surveillance. We listened to the ceaseless babble of the stream. Constant stresses steadiness or persistence and unvarying nature: The constant ticking of the clock lulled him to sleep. Incessant adds to constant the suggestion of annoying repetition: The dog's incessant barking kept him up all night. Perpetual emphasizes both steadiness and duration: One side of the moon is in perpetual darkness. Eternal refers to what is everlasting, especially to what is seemingly without temporal beginning or end: "That freedom can be retained only by the eternal vigilance which has always been its price" (Elmer Davis).
Perennial describes existence that goes on year after year, often with the suggestion of self-renewal: The candidates discussed the perennial problem of urban poverty.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
continual
(kənˈtɪnjʊəl)adj
1. recurring frequently, esp at regular intervals
2. occurring without interruption; continuous in time
[C14: from Old French continuel, from Latin continuus uninterrupted, from continēre to hold together, contain]
conˌtinuˈality, conˈtinualness n
conˈtinually adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
con•tin•u•al
(kənˈtɪn yu əl)adj.
1. of regular or frequent recurrence; often repeated; very frequent: continual bus departures.
2. happening without interruption or cessation; continuous in time.
[1300–50; Middle English continuel < Middle French < Medieval Latin continuālis = Latin continu(us) continuous + -ālis -al1]
con•tin`u•al′i•ty, con•tin′u•al•ness, n.
con•tin′u•al•ly, adv.
usage: Although the words are used interchangeably in all kinds of speech and writing, some usage guides advise that continual be used only to mean “intermittent” and continuous only to mean “uninterrupted.” To avoid confusion, some writers use instead the terms intermittent (intermittent losses of power during the storm) and uninterrupted (uninterrupted reception during the storm) or similar expressions. continuous is never interchangeable with continual in the sense of spatial relationship: a continuous (not continual) series of passages.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
constant
– continual – continuousYou can use constant, continual, and continuous to describe things that happen or exist without stopping.
1. 'constant'
You describe something as constant when it happens all the time or never goes away.
He was in constant pain.
I'm getting tired of Eva's constant criticism.
2. 'continual' and 'continuous'
Continual is usually used to describe something that happens often over a period of time. If something is continuous, it happens all the time without stopping, or seems to do so. For example, if you say 'There was continual rain', you mean that it rained often. If you say 'There was continuous rain', you mean that it did not stop raining.
Continual can only be used in front of a noun. Don't use it after a verb. Continuous can be used either in front of a noun or after a linking verb.
There have been continual demands to cut costs.
He still smoked despite the continual warnings of his nurse.
There was a continuous background noise.
Breathing should be slow and continuous.
If you are describing something undesirable which continues to happen or exist without stopping, it is better to use continual rather than continuous.
Life is a continual struggle.
She was in continual pain.
3. 'continual' or 'continuous'
If you are describing something undesirable which continues to happen or exist without stopping, it is better to use continual rather than continuous.
Life is a continual struggle.
It was sad to see her the victim of continual pain.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Adj. | 1. | continual - occurring without interruption; chiefly restricted to what recurs regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series; "the continual banging of the shutters" sporadic - recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances; "a city subjected to sporadic bombing raids" |
| 2. | continual - `continual' (meaning seemingly uninterrupted) is often used interchangeably with `continuous' (meaning without interruption) continuous, uninterrupted - continuing in time or space without interruption; "a continuous rearrangement of electrons in the solar atoms results in the emission of light"- James Jeans; "a continuous bout of illness lasting six months"; "lived in continuous fear"; "a continuous row of warehouses"; "a continuous line has no gaps or breaks in it"; "moving midweek holidays to the nearest Monday or Friday allows uninterrupted work weeks" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
continual
adjective
1. constant, endless, continuous, eternal, perpetual, uninterrupted, interminable, incessant, everlasting, unremitting, unceasing Despite continual pain, he refused all drugs.
constant broken, interrupted, erratic, fluctuating
constant broken, interrupted, erratic, fluctuating
2. frequent, regular, repeated, repetitive, recurrent, oft-repeated She suffered continual police harassment.
frequent occasional, irregular, periodic, sporadic, intermittent, infrequent, spasmodic
frequent occasional, irregular, periodic, sporadic, intermittent, infrequent, spasmodic
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
continual
adjectiveExisting or occurring without interruption or end:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مُتَواصِلمُتَواصِل، مُتَتابِع
neustálýustavičný
vedvarendegentagetkonstant
jatkuva
neprekidan
sífelldur, síendurtekinn
継続的な
연속적인
nenehenpogostenstalen
ständig
ต่อเนื่อง
liên tục
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
continual
[kənˈtɪnjʊəl] adj [use] → continuel(le); [process, improvement] → continuel(le); [pressure, demands, pain] → continuel(le)Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
continual
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
continual
[kənˈtɪnjʊəl] adj → continuo/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
continue
(kənˈtinjuː) verb1. to go on being, doing etc; to last or keep on. She continued to run; They continued running; He will continue in his present job; The noise continued for several hours; The road continues for 150 kilometres.
2. to go on (with) often after a break or pause. He continued his talk after the interval; This story is continued on p.53.
conˈtinual adjective very frequent; repeated many times. continual interruptions.
conˈtinually adverbconˌtinuˈation noun
1. the act of continuing, often after a break or pause. the continuation of his studies.
2. something which carries on, especially a further part of a story etc. This is a continuation of what he said last week.
ˌcontiˈnuity (kon-) noun1. the state of being continuous or logically related. It is important to children to have some continuity in their education.
2. the detailed arrangement of the parts of a story etc for a film script etc.
adjectivea continuity girl.
conˈtinuous adjective joined together, or going on, without interruption. a continuous series; continuous rain; continuous movement.
conˈtinuously adverbIt rained continuously all day.
continual means frequent, again and again.
continuous means non-stop, without interruption.
continuous means non-stop, without interruption.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
continual
→ مُتَواصِل neustálý vedvarende ununterbrochen συχνός continuo jatkuva continuel neprekidan continuo 継続的な 연속적인 aanhoudend ustanselig ciągły contínuo постоянный ständig ต่อเนื่อง sürekli liên tục 连续的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
continual
adj continuo, habitualEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.