constant

1 of 2

adjective

con·​stant ˈkän(t)-stənt How to pronounce constant (audio)
1
: marked by firm steadfast resolution or faithfulness : exhibiting constancy of mind or attachment
a constant friend
2
: invariable, uniform
a constant flow
should be stored at a constant temperature
3
: continually occurring or recurring : regular
a constant annoyance
suffers from constant headaches

constant

2 of 2

noun

: something invariable or unchanging: such as
a
: a number that has a fixed value in a given situation or universally or that is characteristic of some substance or instrument
b
: a number that is assumed not to change value in a given mathematical discussion
c
: a term in logic with a fixed designation
d
: something or someone that is reliably present or available
My parents put in me in piano lessons when I was really young, so music has always been a constant in my life.Mélat
He's my constant for when I seek guidance both on a professional and personal front.Gautam Mehra
Choose the Right Synonym for constant

faithful, loyal, constant, staunch, steadfast, resolute mean firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance.

faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted.

faithful to her promise

loyal implies a firm resistance to any temptation to desert or betray.

remained loyal to the czar

constant stresses continuing firmness of emotional attachment without necessarily implying strict obedience to promises or vows.

constant friends

staunch suggests fortitude and resolution in adherence and imperviousness to influences that would weaken it.

a staunch defender of free speech

steadfast implies a steady and unwavering course in love, allegiance, or conviction.

steadfast in their support

resolute implies firm determination to adhere to a cause or purpose.

a resolute ally

continual, continuous, constant, incessant, perpetual, perennial mean characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence.

continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence.

continual showers the whole weekend

continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension.

football's oldest continuous rivalry

constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence.

lived in constant pain

incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity.

annoyed by the incessant quarreling

perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration.

a land of perpetual snowfall

perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal.

a perennial source of controversy

Examples of constant in a Sentence

Adjective He suffers from constant headaches. Her constant chatter was a nuisance. The house is in constant need of repairs. The scar serves as a constant reminder of the accident. a problem demanding constant attention The equipment should be stored at a constant temperature. He kept the car's speed constant. She has struggled to maintain a constant weight. They remained constant friends throughout their lives. Noun Her job was the one constant in her life.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The sound of constant flutters echoed with the players’ every word. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Satellites provide constant, high-resolution imagery, which is used to analyze suitable landscapes from space. Rebecca Cairns, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 Quite frankly, Booth’s eventual demise by the show’s finale is a relief from the constant rants and self-aggrandizing. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 One of the things that’s remarkable about the story of the Eight [Air Force] and the 100th [Bomb Group] in particular is this constant war between the psychological and physical impact of trauma. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Mar. 2024 Center Daniel Gafford tallied seven of Dallas’ 13 blocks, looming as a constant deterrent at the rim. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 The biggest benefit of growing up in the Silicon Valley was change was constant. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 There’s also understanding how change is constant, and talking about radical imagination, as well. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 And in his 10 years with the club, Jeffries has been the constant amid a bunch of change. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024
Noun
Our constants are our smoothies, juices and smoothie bowls. Kristine M. Kierzek, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024 But throughout these decades of turmoil, one constant remained: The Alaouite kings always stood by the Jewish community. Theo Zenou, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 One constant in reviews of the restaurant is, well, its consistency. Timothy Charles Davis, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024 Good drinks, low ceilings and creaky floors are all constants on this leafy stretch of N Street NW in Dupont Circle. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 Cosmologists have measured the most common wavelength of those frozen pressure waves and used it to calculate a value for the Hubble constant of 67.6 km/s/Mpc, with an uncertainty of less than 1%. Quanta Magazine, 19 Jan. 2024 But the one constant is the play of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who turned in a classic playoff performance with 430 yards and two touchdowns against Texas. Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2024 But Kepler, who signed with the Twins as an international free agent out of Germany in 2009, has been a constant in the Twins’ clubhouse, watching as those around him come and go. Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2024 The constant has always been the water, the springs, the source. Elizabeth Heath, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'constant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin constant-, constans, from present participle of constare to stand firm, be consistent, from com- + stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of constant was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near constant

Cite this Entry

“Constant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constant. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

constant

1 of 2 adjective
con·​stant ˈkän(t)-stənt How to pronounce constant (audio)
1
: always faithful and true
constant friends
2
: remaining steady and unchanged
a constant temperature
3
: occurring over and over again
constant headaches
constantly adverb

constant

2 of 2 noun
: something unchanging
especially : a quantity whose value does not change under given mathematical conditions compare variable sense 1

Medical Definition

constant

1 of 2 adjective
con·​stant ˈkän(t)-stənt How to pronounce constant (audio)
: remaining unchanged
constantly adverb

constant

2 of 2 noun
: something invariable or unchanging
especially : a number that has a fixed value in a given situation or universally or that is characteristic of some substance or instrument

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