insist

(ĭn-sĭst')

v., -sist·ed, -sist·ing, -sists.

v.intr.
To be firm in a demand or course; refuse to yield: insisted on giving me a second helping.

v.tr.
To assert or demand (something) vehemently and persistently: We insist that you accept these gifts.

[Latin īnsistere, to persist : in-, on; see in-² + sistere, to stand.]

insistence in·sis'tence or in·sis'ten·cy n.
insister in·sist'er n.
insistingly in·sist'ing·ly adv.

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takes several constructions in current English in the meaning 'to assert as a demand': you can insist on something (or on doing something), you can insist that something be done (subjunctive, with that optionally omitted, or with should as an alternative), or you can simply insist (with no complement). Examples:

Tony insisted that she accompany him to a meeting of the Literary Society—A. S. Byatt, 1985

And I, maliciously, insisted he take the most comfortable chair—Penelope Lively, 1987

Henry had not wanted to bring Louisa on the expedition but she had cried to go, and the adults insisted that she not be left behind—L. Clarke, 1989

The family received me very warmly and Signora Ugolotti insisted that I should have something to eat—W. Newby, 1991

They insisted on spending ages there wandering around choosing a book each—Yorkshire Post 2002

Keep it sexual by insisting that she leave her underwear at home—fashion website, American English 2004.

When insist means 'assert as a fact or truth', it is followed by a that-clause with an ordinary indicative (i.e. not subjunctive) verb:

He insisted that the government was incapable of resolving the structural crisis of the country—Socialist Worker Online, 2003.

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also insist on

verb

1. To take and maintain a stand obstinately: persevere, persist. See continue/stop/pause.
2. To solicit (something) insistently: press, urge. See continue/stop/pause, seek/avoid.

phrasal verb - insist on (or upon)

To ask for urgently or insistently: call for, claim, demand, exact, require, requisition. Idioms: cry out for. See request.

v

Definition: order and expect; claim
Antonyms: endure, forget, tolerate

IN BRIEF: To demand or say in a strong, firm manner.

Insist on yourself; never imitate. — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American transcendentalist philosopher, essayist & lecturer.

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For a list of words related to insist, see:

• Modes and Manners of Expression - insist: declare or demand emphatically

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See words rhyming with "insistency."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Insist.

Dansk (Danish)
v. intr. - insistere, hævde, holde på, fastholde, påstå, kræve
v. tr. - kræve, fordre

Nederlands (Dutch)
aandringen, erop staan, volhouden

Français (French)
v. intr. - insister, exiger, tenir à faire
v. tr. - insister, exiger, affirmer, soutenir

Deutsch (German)
v. - bestehen auf, beharren auf

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - επιμένω, εμμένω

Italiano (Italian)
insistere, sostenere

Português (Portuguese)
v. - insistir

Русский (Russian)
настаивать

Español (Spanish)
v. intr. - insistir en, empeñarse en
v. tr. - insistir, porfiar, empeñarse

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - insistera, prompt vilja, vidhålla sin ståndpunkt

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
坚持, 坚决认为, 坚决主张, 强调, 一定要, 坚决要求

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. intr. - 堅持, 堅決認為, 堅決主張, 強調, 一定要
v. tr. - 堅持, 堅決主張, 堅決認為, 堅決要求

한국어 (Korean)
v. intr. - 우기다, 주장하다, 강요하다
v. tr. - 우기다, 주장하다, 강요하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 主張する, 言い張る, 強調する, 強く要求する, 強要する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يصر على‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. intr. - ‮עמד על (כך), עמד על דעתו, התעקש‬
v. tr. - ‮הפציר‬

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