perpetuate

Pronunciation: verb. Synonyms: sustain, maintain, prolong

verb

Definition of perpetuate

perpetuate (verb): make (something) continue for an indefinite time

Example: The movie served to perpetuate the myth of the noble outlaw.

Best for: learners who already know "sustain" or "maintain"; GRE Verbal (Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence); SAT Reading & Writing (Words in Context).

Synonyms for perpetuate

perpetuate in a Sentence

  1. The movie served to perpetuate the myth of the noble outlaw.

Why perpetuate Matters for GRE & SAT

"perpetuate" is a verb that means "make (something) continue for an indefinite time" closely related to words like "sustain", "maintain", "prolong". As a word starting with P, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.

On the GRE, understanding "perpetuate" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "perpetuate" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.

Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (verb). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "perpetuate" into long-term memory.

How to Remember perpetuate

One effective way to remember "perpetuate" (verb) is to group it with similar words you already know: "sustain" and "maintain" and "prolong". When you encounter "perpetuate" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "make (something) continue for an indefinite time".

Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "perpetuate" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.

  • pacify — bring peace to or calm someone down
  • painstaking — Done with or employing great care and thoroughness
  • palpable — So intense as to seem almost tangible
  • paltry — of little monetary worth; trivial

More Vocabulary Words Starting with P

  • pacify — bring peace to or calm someone down
  • pacify — bring peace to or calm someone down
  • painstaking — Done with or employing great care and thoroughness
  • painstaking — done with careful attention to detail
  • painstaking — done with careful attention to detail
  • palpable — So intense as to seem almost tangible
  • palpable — tangible, perceptible, or clearly noticeable
  • palpable — tangible, perceptible, or clearly noticeable
  • paltry — of little monetary worth; trivial
  • paltry — of little monetary worth; trivial