Perennial
adjective / noun /pəˈrɛn.i.əl/ — Lasting or active through many years; enduring, ever-returning.
Definition
Lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring. In botany: a plant that lives for more than two years, returning season after season. A perennial question, a perennial problem — one that never truly goes away but returns as each generation faces it anew.
Beyond the definition
The perennial is not just what survives — it is what returns. After every winter, the perennial plant breaks ground again. Some questions, some loves, some aches are perennial too: they come back every spring.
Origin & history
Latin: 'perennis' (lasting through the year). From 'per' (through) + 'annus' (year). The botanical and metaphorical senses developed together.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The perennial question of what makes a life well-lived has no final answer.
She planted perennials in the garden so something would return without her intervention.
His curiosity was perennial — it didn't diminish with age but seemed to intensify.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Perennial” when the meaning fits your context: Lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring. In botany: a plant that lives for more than two years, returning season after season. A perennial question, a perennial problem — one that never truly goes away but returns as each generation faces it anew.
Synonyms
Antonyms
annual, temporary, ephemeral
Related words
Perennial vs eternal
Perennial describes things that recur, last for a long time, or bloom repeatedly. Eternal implies a constant state that never changes or ends, transcending time altogether.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Seasonal Tree Transformation
A deciduous tree features bare twigs, budding leaves, and fallen brown leaves beneath a circular sky.
The tree’s ability to return season after season, despite the changing appearances of its leaves, illustrates a perennial condition—something that endures through cycles and never truly goes away.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Perennial" mean?
Perennial is adjective / noun meaning: Lasting or active through many years; enduring, ever-returning.. Lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring. In botany: a plant that lives for more than two years, returning season after season. A perennial question, a perennial problem — one that never truly goes away but returns as each generation faces it anew.
Where does the word "Perennial" come from?
Latin: 'perennis' (lasting through the year). From 'per' (through) + 'annus' (year). The botanical and metaphorical senses developed together.