continuous

adjective

kən-ˈtin-yü-əs How to pronounce continuous (audio)
Definition of continuousnext
as in continual
going on and on without any interruptions a city that has been under continuous bombardment for three days

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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a continuous flow
a continual flow
a constant flow
a consistent flow
a perpetual flow
a steady flow
continuous monitoring
continual monitoring
constant monitoring
persistent monitoring
steady monitoring
uninterrupted monitoring
a continuous operation
an uninterrupted operation
a sustained operation
a steady operation
a nonstop operation
a constant operation
a continuous period
an uninterrupted period
a sustained period
an ongoing period
a continued period
a persistent period

Synonym Chooser

How is the word continuous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of continuous are constant, continual, incessant, perennial, and perpetual. While all these words mean "characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence," continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension.

football's oldest continuous rivalry

In what contexts can constant take the place of continuous?

The words constant and continuous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence.

lived in constant pain

When would continual be a good substitute for continuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to continuous, continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.

continual showers the whole weekend

When could incessant be used to replace continuous?

While the synonyms incessant and continuous are close in meaning, incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity.

annoyed by the incessant quarreling

When is perennial a more appropriate choice than continuous?

The meanings of perennial and continuous largely overlap; however, perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal.

a perennial source of controversy

When might perpetual be a better fit than continuous?

In some situations, the words perpetual and continuous are roughly equivalent. However, perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration.

a land of perpetual snowfall

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of continuous But the momentum depends on continuous investment and global cooperation, currently jeopardized by shifting political priorities. —Mario Jimenez, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2025 The wave that inspired this project is that of the Adriatic, characterized by a fluid, continuous motion shaped by the contours of the seabed. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025 Guitarist Angus Young, the only continuous member in the band’s 51 year history, co-wrote the songs with his brother Malcolm, who died in 2017. —Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025 The Garden Says… is not just an environment but an invitation—one that encourages return, exploration, and the continuous possibility of new meetings. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for continuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continuous
  1. continual
  2. continued
  3. continuing
  4. nonstop
  5. incessant
  6. uninterrupted
Adjective
  • This is the dubious way Trump calculated his ‘reciprocal’ tariffs They are driven toward continual growth.
    — David Brooks, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Consistently share your goals and progress with your employees to model the importance of continual self-development.
    — Barry Marshall, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of continual
Adjective
  • Eyal’s optimism is backed by checks by his firm that indicated continued strength in demand, with CYBR’s effort to expand its platform away from its core privileged access management gaining traction among customers.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
  • On Thursday, in response to the country's continued refusal to rescind its own retaliatory tariffs, Trump and the White House confirmed that the total rate of duties now applied to Chinese imports had reached 145 percent.
    — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of continued
Adjective
  • Officials said overnight enforcement will focus on common and continuing offenses such as commercial vehicles parked in residential areas and permit violations.
    — Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 6 Mar. 2025
  • State of the labor market Initial weekly unemployment insurance claims have held in a fairly steady range around 220,000, though continuing claims earlier in November had hit their highest level in about three years.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024
Definition of continuing
Adjective
  • Scandinavia’s premier airlines, SAS, was named as Europe’s most punctual airline and offers nonstop flights from cities like New York to CPH with a complimentary stopover option through Copenhagen for up to 72 hours.
    — Alissa Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Cape Town is now serviced by three nonstop flights from the U.S. Popular day trips from the city include seeing the bucolic wineries of Stellenbosch, the African penguin colony in Simon’s Town, and the Big Five at Aquila Game Reserve.
    — Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of nonstop
Adjective
  • The special forces then made up a makeshift stretcher to carry the soldier away, dodging mines and the incessant boom of artillery fire.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The incessant supply from China enabled Ukraine to fight a war of asymmetry against a much stronger enemy.
    — Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of incessant
Adjective
  • The two-tool combo kit also includes a 350 CFM (cubic feet per minute) leaf blower, which offers 70 minutes of uninterrupted runtime, and can handle light projects like hard surfaces and dry leaves.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The battery is removable for easy charging, and users have the ability to purchase an additional battery for an even longer, uninterrupted cleaning period.
    — Maggie Horton, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of uninterrupted

Browse Nearby Words

continuity
continuous
continuously
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Cite this Entry

“Continuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continuous. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

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