persist in WordNet English dictionary

1. continue to exist
   "These stories die hard"; "The legend of Elvis endures"
   prevail  persist  die hard  run  endure 
   
2. be persistent, refuse to stop
   "he persisted to call me every night"; "The child persisted and kept asking questions"
   persevere  persist  hang in  hang on  hold on 
   
3. stay behind
   "The smell stayed in the room"; "The hostility remained long after they made up"
   persist  remain  stay