WordGarden.ioperennially
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pərˈɛnɪəli/
US
- /pərˈɛniəli/
Meanings
Adverb
year after year or in a way that keeps lasting over time
Beyond the definition
Imagine a wildflower that comes back year after year. That gives you the basic feeling of "perennially." It describes something that happens again and again, or something that stays true over a long time. A team might be perennially strong, meaning it is strong almost every year. A problem can be perennially unresolved, meaning it keeps returning or never really gets fixed. It is more than just "often"; it suggests a lasting pattern.
The word "perennially" comes from the Latin "perennis," meaning lasting throughout the year, like plants that keep coming back. That history helps explain the word today. It is used for things that happen again and again over a long period, or for qualities that seem to stay in place for years.
You might describe a debate as "perennially contentious," meaning it keeps causing arguments whenever it comes up. A town might be "perennially short on funding," which suggests that this is an ongoing problem, not a one-time issue. A restaurant can be perennially busy, and a player can be perennially underrated. In each case, the idea is the same: this is the usual state, and it has been that way for quite a while.
Unlike "always," which can sound absolute, "perennially" usually points to a long-running pattern. It often fits contexts like public debate, sports, politics, culture, or recurring problems. A perennially popular song is one that stays popular over the years. A perennially late train is late so often that people almost expect it.
So, if you want to describe something that keeps happening over the years, or a quality that seems to stick for a long time, "perennially" is a strong choice. It adds the sense of repetition, duration, and a pattern that does not seem to change much.
Examples
- 1
Garden
The garden stays perennially green, even in winter.
- 2
Museum exhibit
The museum’s dinosaur exhibit is perennially popular with children.
- 3
Sports ranking
Our local team is perennially near the bottom of the league.
- 4
Staffing shortage
The clinic is perennially short of nurses.
- Patternshort of + resource
not having enough of it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Meeting habits
She is perennially late to meetings, so we usually start without her.
- 6
Optimistic attitude
He remains perennially optimistic, even when the project runs into problems.
See also
Similar
- enduringly
- continually
- consistently
Shades of meaning
- year after year
- chronically
- everlastingly
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- perennially popular
- perennially successful
- perennially overlooked
- perennially relevant
Word family
- perennial
- perenniality
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- perenniallyadverb