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 -al 1]
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
مُتَواصِل مُتَواصِل، 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. aanhou يَبْقى، يَدوم، يَسْتَمِر простирам се continuar pokračovat, setrvat fortfahren fortsætte med; vedblive med συνεχίζω, συνεχίζομαι continuar jätkama, jätkuma ادامه دادن یا یافتن؛ طول کشیدن jatkaa continuer לְהִימָשֵך जारी रहना nastavljati folytat(ódik) meneruskan halda áfram continuare 続ける 지속하다 toliau ką daryti, tęsti(s), trukti turpināt; turpināties menyambung doorgaan fortsette; gå videre, holde på kontynuować, trwać, ciągnąć się ادامه continuar a continua продолжать pokračovať, trvať nadaljevati (se) nastaviti se fortsätta ดําเนินต่อไป devam etmek, sürmek 延續,持續 продовжувати(ся); простягатися جارى رهنا يا ركهنا، برقرار رهنا يا ركهنا، رهنا يا كرتے رهنا tiếp tục 延续,延伸
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. aangaan, voortsit يَسْتَمِر продължавам continuar pokračovat, znovu začít fortsetzen fortsætte συνεχίζω, συνεχίζομαι continuar, proseguir jätkama, jätkuma دنباله داشتن؛ دنبال کردن jatkaa reprendre לְהַמשִיך जारी produljiti folytat meneruskan halda áfram riprendere 継続する 계속하다 toliau ką daryti, tęsti turpināt bersambung voortzetten fortsette, bli ved kontynuować تعقیب کول continuar a relua продолжать pokračovať nadaljevati (se) nastaviti se fortsätta เริ่มอีกครั้ง devam etmek 繼續 продовжувати جارى ركهنا tiếp diễn 继续
conˈtinual adjective very frequent; repeated many times. continual interruptions. aanhoudende مُتَواصِل، مُتَتابِع непрестанен contínuo ustavičný, neustálý sehr häufig konstant; vedvarende; gentaget συνεχής, διαρκής continuo, repetido jätkuv مکرر؛ پیوسته toistuva continuel מִתמַשֵׁך अविरत vrlo čest, učestao szakadatlan sering sífelldur, síendurtekinn continuo ひん繁な 계속적인 nuolatinis ļoti biežs; nerimstošs selalu voortdurend gjentatt, stadig ustawiczny پر له پسی constante continuu беспрестанный neustály pogost učestao ständig, idelig ต่อเนื่อง sürekli, devamlı 頻繁的,連續的 безперервний; постійний لگاتار، متواتر lặp đi lặp lại 频繁的,连续的
conˈtinually adverb aanhoudend بِاسْتِمرار، بِتَتَابُع непрекъснато continuamente ustavičně ständig til stadighed; igen og igen συνεχώς continuamente jätkuvalt بطور مکرر toistuvasti sans cesse כָּל הַזְמָן निरंतर učestao, neprestan állandóan, folyamatosan terus-menerus sífellt continuamente 絶えず 계속적으로 nuolatos ļoti bieži; nerimtīgi dengan selalu voortdurend til stadighet, gjentatte ganger ustawicznie له پر له پسی constantemente în continuu неоднократно neustále neprenehoma učestalo ständigt, ideligen อย่างต่อเนื่อง sürekli bir şekilde 連續地 безперервно; постійно لگاتار، متواتر không ngừng 连续地
conˌtinuˈation noun1. the act of continuing, often after a break or pause. the continuation of his studies. voortsetting إسْتِمرار، تَتابُع продължаване continuação pokračování die Fortsetzung fortsættelse; genoptagelse συνέχιση (μετά από διακοπή) continuación jätkamine, jätkumine ادامه؛ از سر گیری jatkuminen reprise הַמשָכָה के क्रम में nastavljanje folytatás lanjutan áframhald ripresa 継続 계속 tęsimas turpināšana menyambung voortzetting fortsettelse, videreføring, gjenopptak kontynuacja ادامه continuação reluare возобновление pokračovanie nadaljevanje nastavak fortsättning, återupptagande การต่อเนื่องกัน devam etme 繼續 поновлення تسلسل، دوام sự tiếp tục trở lại 继续
2. something which carries on, especially a further part of a story etc. This is a continuation of what he said last week. voortsetting, vervolg إسْتِمْرار، تَتِمَّه، تَكْمِلَه продължение continuação pokračování die Fortsetzung fortsættelse η συνέχεια, το επόμενο μέρος (π.χ. μιας ιστορίας) continuación jätk دنباله؛ بخش بعدی jatko suite המשך जारी neprestano trajanje folytatás lanjutan framhald seguito 続き 속편 tęsinys turpinājums penerusan vervolg fortsettelse ciąg dalszy تعقیب continuação urmare продолжение pokračovanie nadaljevanje nastavak fortsättning ตอนต่อไป devam (故事的)延伸 продовження بقيہ phần tiếp theo (故事的)续篇
ˌcontiˈnuity (kon-) noun1. the state of being continuous or logically related. It is important to children to have some continuity in their education. kontinuïteit إسْتِمْرارِيَّه последователност continuidade kontunuita die Stetigkeit kontinuitet; sammenhæng συνοχή, αλληλουχία continuidad järjepidevus تداوم؛ پیوستگی jatkuvuus continuité רציפות निरंतरता stalan slijed folyamatosság kesinambungan órofið samhengi continuità 継続性 연속성 tęstinumas, nuoseklumas nepārtrauktība; secība penyambungan continuïteit kontinuitet, sammenheng ciągłość دوام continuidade continuitate последовательность kontinuita stalnost kontinuitet kontinuitet ความต่อเนื่องกัน devamlılık, süreklilik 連續性,持續性 безперервність; цілісність تسلسل، دوام sự liên tục 连续性,持续性
2. the detailed arrangement of the parts of a story etc for a film script etc. samehang سِلْسِلَة، سيناريو سينمائي сценарий continuidade scénář das Drehbuch billedfølge; drejebog ροή σεναρίου continuidad režiistsenaarium فیلمنامۀ نهایی kerronta continuité המשכיות किसी फिल्म की पटकथा में कहानी के हिस्सों की विस्तृत योजना kontinuitet, neprekidnost forgatókönyv kesinambungan handrit copione 撮影用台本 콘티 nuoseklus išdėstymas, montažas scenārijs kesinambungan draaiboek handlingsforløp, dreiebok scenariusz اخيرى فيلمنامه continuidade (listă de) montaj сценарий scenár scenarij kontinuitet scenario, scenföljd การลําดับเรื่องในบทภาพยนตร์ ayrımlama (電影)場景串聯 сценарій, послідовна зміна تسلسل كيساتھ ترتيب دينا kịch bản điện ảnh (电影或电视节目场景中服装、物体的)一致性,衔接
adjectivea continuity girl. kontinuïteitsmeisie إتِّصالي помощник монтажист de continuidade asistentka režie, skriptka Skript-... skript- συνεχής, αδιάκοπος secretaria de rodaje režissööri abi منشی صحنه kuuluttaja- scripte המשכיות skriptgerl naplóvezető pengatur adegan film skrifta di produzione 撮影記録係 (영화) 여성 촬영 기록 담당원 montažininkas [] montētāja continuity skript(-) dbający o ciągłość معاون صحنه de continuidade ассистент кинорежиссёра skriptka tajnica režije stalno scripta ซึ่งต่อเนื่องกัน ayrılmayan 女場記員 безперебійний; той, що веде запис зйомки مسلسل، لگاتار người dẫn chương trình (影片的)剪辑员
conˈtinuous adjective joined together, or going on, without interruption. a continuous series; continuous rain; continuous movement. ononderbroke مُتَتابِع، مُتَواصِل، مُسْتَمِر неспирен contínuo plynulý, nepřetržitý ununterbrochen stadig; vedvarende; uafbrudt συνεχής, αδιάκοπος continuo pidev پیوسته؛ بی وقفه jatkuva continu רצוף लागातार neprekidan folyamatos tak terputus samfelldur continuo とぎれのない 연속적인 ištisinis, be pertrūkių nepārtraukts; ilgstošs berterusan ononderbroken stadig, vedvarende, uavbrutt ciągły بی وقفه contínuo continuu непрерывный plynulý, neustály nepretrgan, nedovršen neprekidan kontinuerlig, oavbruten, sammanhängande ซึ่งต่อเนื่องกัน sürekli 連續的,持續的 суцільний; безперервний مسلسل، غير منقطع liên tục 连续的,持续的
conˈtinuously adverbIt rained continuously all day. ononderbroke, aanhoudend بِاستِمرار، بِصورَة مُتَواصِلَه без прекъсване continuamente nepřetržitě ununterbrochen uafbrudt; konstant συνέχεια, αδιάκοπα continuamente, sin interrupción vahetpidamata بطور مداوم jatkuvasti continuellement ברציפות निरंतरता से neprekidan folyamatosan terus-menerus sleitulaust continuamente 絶え間なく 지속적으로 be perstojo nepārtraukti; ilgstoši dengan berterusan ononderbroken i ett sett, uavbrutt ciągle مکرر seguidamente încontinuu непрерывно nepretržite neprestano neprekidno kontinuerligt, oavbrutet, sammanhängande อย่างต่อเนื่อง sürekli olarak 連續地,持續地 суцільно; безперервно لگاتار، بلا انقطاع một cách liên tiếp 连续地,持续地
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.