Insist Definition

ĭn-sĭst

insisted, insisting, insists

verb

insisted, insisting, insists

To take and maintain a stand or make a firm demand.

Webster's New World

To demand strongly.

Webster's New World

To declare firmly or persistently.

Webster's New World

(with on or upon or (that + ordinary verb form)) To hold up a claim emphatically.

The defendant insisted on his innocence.

I insist that my secretary dresses nicely. (I am defending her; see a similar example in the context below for comparison.)

Wiktionary

(sometimes with on or upon or (that + subjunctive)) To demand continually that something happen or be done.

The Prime Minister insisted on his Chancellor's resignation.

The Prime Minister insisted that his Chancellor resign.

I insist that my secretary dress nicely.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Insist

Latin īnsistere to persist in- on in–² sistere to stand stā- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Middle French insister, from Latin insistere

From Wiktionary

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