- prolonged without interruption; unceasing: a continuous noise
- in an unbroken series or pattern
- (of a function or curve) changing gradually in value as the variable changes in value. A function f is continuous if at every value a of the independent variable the difference between f(x) and f(a) approaches zero as x approaches a
See also limit - (of a variable) having a continuum of possible values so that its distribution requires integration rather than summation to determine its cumulative probability
- another word for progressive
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
con•tin•u•ous /kənˈtɪnyuəs/USA pronunciation
adj.
con•tin•u•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- uninterrupted in time;
without stopping:[before a noun]continuous noise during the movie. - being in immediate connection in space:[before a noun]one continuous line of dancers.
- Grammar progressive (def. 7).:Some verbs, like contain, don't take the continuous tense for all meanings.
con•tin•u•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]
- See continual.
con•tin•u•ous
(kən tin′yo̅o̅ əs),USA pronunciation adj.
con•tin′u•ous•ly, adv.
con•tin′u•ous•ness, n.
- uninterrupted in time;
without cessation:continuous coughing during the concert. - being in immediate connection or spatial relationship:a continuous series of blasts; a continuous row of warehouses.
- Grammarprogressive (def. 7).
- Latin continuus uninterrupted, equivalent. to contin(ēre) to hold together, retain (con- con- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold; compare contain) + -uus deverbal adjective, adjectival suffix; compare -ous, contiguous
- 1635–45
con•tin′u•ous•ness, n.
- See continual.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
continuous /kənˈtɪnjʊəs/ adj
'continuous' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
accumulation
- ache
- alternating current
- aorist
- apron
- barrage
- basso continuo
- beta stock
- break
- cannonade
- chaconne
- chain printer
- chainsaw
- chi-square distribution
- chukka
- cline
- colloid
- computer
- constant
- continent
- continue
- continual
- continuant
- continuity
- continuo
- continuous assessment
- continuous creation
- continuum
- cordon
- cornea
- cornice
- course
- cycle
- deck-access
- dialling tone
- digital computer
- direct current
- discharge
- discontinuous
- discrete
- downpour
- drain
- drawdown
- emission spectrum
- energy band
- entire
- escarpment
- Evans
- exponential distribution
- accrescence