perpetual

Universal Words adjective 1 [usuallybeforenoun] continuing for a long period of time without interruption SYNCONTINUOUS: the perpetual noise of traffic * We lived for years in a perpetual state of fear. * We're all in a state of perpetual motion in this office (= we're always moving round or changing things). * (literary) mountain peaks covered with perpetual snows and ice 2 [usuallybeforenoun] frequently repeated, in a way that is annoying SYNCONTINUAL: How can I work with these perpetual interruptions? 3 [onlybeforenoun] (of a job or position) lasting for the whole of sb's life: He was elected perpetual president. * (humorous) She's a perpetual student. perpetually adverb