Definition of insist verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

insist

verb

/ɪnˈsɪst/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they insist	/ɪnˈsɪst/ /ɪnˈsɪst/
he / she / it insists	/ɪnˈsɪsts/ /ɪnˈsɪsts/
past simple insisted	/ɪnˈsɪstɪd/ /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/
past participle insisted	/ɪnˈsɪstɪd/ /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/
-ing form insisting	/ɪnˈsɪstɪŋ/ /ɪnˈsɪstɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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[intransitive, transitive] to demand that something happen or that somebody agree to do something
- I didn't really want to go but he insisted.
- Stay and have lunch. I insist!
- ‘Please come with us.’ ‘Very well then, if you insist.’
- insist on somebody/something doing something She insisted on him wearing a suit.
- insist on somebody's/something's doing something (formal) She insisted on his wearing a suit.
- insist that… He insists that she come.
- (British English also) He insists that she should come.
Synonyms demand
demandrequire ▪ expect ▪ insist ▪ askThese words all mean to say that somebody should do or have something.
demand to make a very strong request for something; to say very definitely that somebody should have or do something:
She demanded an immediate explanation.
require [often passive] (rather formal) to make somebody do or have something, especially because it is necessary according to a law or set of rules or standards:
All candidates will be required to take a short test.
expect to demand that somebody should do, have or be something, especially because it is their duty or responsibility:
I expect to be paid promptly for the work.
insist to demand that something happens or that somebody agrees to do something:
I didn’t want to go but he insisted.
We insist on the highest standards at all times.
ask to expect or demand something:
You’re asking too much of him.
demand, expect or ask?Ask is not as strong as demand or expect, both of which can be more like a command.Patterns
- to demand/require/expect/ask something of/from somebody
- to demand/require/expect/insist/ask that…
- to require/expect/ask somebody to do something
- to demand/require/expect/ask a lot/too much/a great deal
- to be too much to expect/ask
Extra Examples
- He quietly but firmly insisted.
- I'm paying for this—no, I absolutely insist.
- The company insisted that the money be paid immediately.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- firmly
- strongly
- vehemently
- …
verb + insist
- continue to
- try to
preposition
- on
- upon
See full entry
[intransitive, transitive] to state clearly that something is true, especially when other people do not believe you
- insist on something He insisted on his innocence.
- insist (that)… He insisted (that) he was innocent.
- The government has always insisted that this was not the case.
- + speech ‘It's true,’ she insisted.
Extra Examples
- He loudly insisted that he had a right to stay.
- She still insists her critics are wrong.
- Jackson has repeatedly insisted that the allegations were false.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- firmly
- strongly
- vehemently
- …
verb + insist
- continue to
- try to
preposition
- on
- upon
See full entry

Word Originlate 16th cent. (in the sense ‘persist, persevere’): from Latin insistere ‘persist’, from in- ‘upon’ + sistere ‘stand’.

See insist in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee insist in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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Phrasal verbs

Nearby words

alloy

noun

From the Topic

Physics and chemistry

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