1
Core action
Cause a condition, practice, belief, or problem to continue indefinitely.
Example
The textbook perpetuates an outdated myth.
perpetuate
/pəˈpetʃueɪt/ · pur-PETCH-oo-aytverb
Cause a condition, practice, belief, or problem to continue indefinitely.
Use perpetuate to express this relationship precisely: cause a condition, practice, belief, or problem to continue indefinitely.
What perpetuate Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
Unequal access may perpetuate poverty.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
The memorial preserves history without perpetuating hatred.
Use perpetuate Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The textbook perpetuates an outdated myth.
Unequal access may perpetuate poverty.
The memorial preserves history without perpetuating hatred.
Precision Matters
Perpetuate overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
perpetuate
vs.Means cause a condition, practice, belief, or problem to continue indefinitely.
eradicate
Means destroy, remove, or eliminate something completely.
perpetuate
vs.Means cause a condition, practice, belief, or problem to continue indefinitely.
suppress
Means prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
perpetuate
vs.Means cause a condition, practice, belief, or problem to continue indefinitely.
proliferate
Means increase, multiply, reproduce, or spread rapidly in number or amount.
perpetuate
vs.Means cause a condition, practice, belief, or problem to continue indefinitely.
endure
Means continue to exist or remain strong despite time or difficulty; also, suffer something painful patiently.
Test perpetuate in Context
The repetition causes the false belief to continue.
1
Repeating the disproved claim will only ___ the misconception for another generation.