insist
//ɪnˈsɪst//
Forms
- present (v1)
- insist
- past (v2)
- insisted
- past participle (v3)
- insisted
- present participle
- insisting
- 3rd person singular
- insists
Definitions
1.To hold up a claim emphatically.
- The defendant insisted on his innocence.
- I insist that my secretary dresses nicely.
2.To demand continually that something happen or be done; to reiterate a demand despite requests to abandon it.
- I insist that my secretary dress nicely.
- The Prime Minister insisted that his Chancellor resign.
- The Prime Minister insisted on his Chancellor's resignation.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1727
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Uncommon
Etymology
Partly from Middle French insister, from Latin īnsistere; and partly from a back-formation from insistence.
Compare typologically from the same PIE root Bulgarian настоявам (nastojavam), Russian наста́ивать (nastáivatʹ).