INDEX:
1. determined to do something
2. someone who has a determined character
3. determined in a way that is annoying or silly
4. extremely determined to do something, even if it is wrong
5. the ability to be determined
6. behaviour that shows determination
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ NO MATTER WHAT/HOW MUCH ETC
↑ INSIST
↑ CONFIDENT/NOT CONFIDENT
↑ AMBITIOUS
↑ BRAVE/NOT BRAVE
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1. determined to do something
▷ determined /dɪˈtɜːʳmɪnd, dɪˈtɜːʳmənd/ [adjective]
if you are determined to do something, you have decided that you are definitely going to do it, and you will not let anything stop you :
▪ There’s no point in trying to stop her -- it’ll only make her more determined.
determined to do something
▪ I was determined to be a professional dancer, and practised for hours every day.
▪ Both sides in the dispute seemed determined not to compromise.
determined (that)
▪ She was determined that her children should have the best possible education.
▷ be set on /biː ˈset ɒn/ [verb phrase]
to be determined to do something, especially something important that will affect your whole life, even if other people think you should not do it :
be set on (doing) something
▪ Nina seems to be set on marrying him.
be dead set on something
extremely determined to do something
▪ I didn’t particularly want to go to Africa, but Bob was dead set on the idea.
▷ set your mind on /ˌset jɔːʳ ˈmaɪnd ɒn/ [verb phrase]
if you set your mind on something, you decide that that is what you definitely want to do or have, especially something that you will have to work hard to achieve :
set your mind on (doing) something
▪ Once Tammy’s set her mind on something, she doesn’t rest until she’s done it.
▪ She’s set her mind on having a big posh wedding.
▷ be intent on /biː ɪnˈtent ɒn/ [verb phrase]
to be determined to do something, especially something that other people do not approve of or think you should do :
▪ Michael left school at fifteen, intent on a career in showbusiness.
be intent on (doing) something
▪ He’s always seems intent on stirring up trouble among his colleagues.
▷ adamant /ˈædəmənt/ [adjective not before noun]
determined not to change your opinion or decision, especially when other people are trying to persuade you to change it :
▪ The man in the shop was adamant. ‘Definitely not,’ he said.
adamant that
▪ Taylor was adamant that she was not going to quit.
be adamant in your belief/refusal/own mind
▪ Nicolson was always adamant in his belief that his films did not encourage drug-taking.
adamant about
▪ To this day, Matthews is adamant about his innocence.
▷ purposefully /ˈpɜːʳpəsf ə li/ [adverb]
in a way that shows that you are determined to do something :
▪ She strode purposefully up to the door and rang the bell loudly.
▷ be resolved /biː rɪˈzɒlvdǁ-ˈzɑːlvd/ [verb phrase] formal
to be determined to do something because you are sure that it is the right thing to do :
be resolved to do something
▪ The new President is resolved to impose a number of reforms.
be resolved that
▪ Our city authorities are resolved that the new school will be built within six months.
▷ mean business /ˌmiːn ˈbɪznə̇s/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to be determined to do something and show other people that you are determined to do it, even if it involves harming someone :
▪ And to prove we mean business, our members will stage a one-day strike next week.
▪ Firm action would show both sides that the EU and the UN really meant business.
▷ play hardball /pleɪ ˈhɑːʳdbɔːl/ [verb phrase] American informal
to be very determined to get what you want, especially in business or politics :
▪ Toymaker Mattel is getting ready to play hardball in an effort to persuade Hasbro to reconsider a merger.
play hardball with
▪ The Deputy Prime Minister told reporters that Canada was ready to play hardball with the US.
▷ tenacious /tɪˈneɪʃəs, təˈneɪʃəs/ [adjective]
refusing to stop trying to do something even though the situation is difficult or people are opposing you :
▪ As a reporter, David was tougher and more tenacious than the other three.
▪ He was the most tenacious politician in South Korea.
tenaciously [adverb]
▪ The company tenaciously insisted on their right to pay tax at the lower level.
cling/hold on etc tenaciously to something
▪ Rose clung tenaciously to her original idea.
2. someone who has a determined character
▷ determined /dɪˈtɜːʳmɪnd, dɪˈtɜːʳmənd/ [adjective]
someone who is determined works very hard to achieve what they want to achieve, and will not let problems stop them :
▪ Not many women went to university in those days, but Dorothy was a very determined woman.
▪ I was immediately impressed by how determined he was.
▷ single-minded /ˌsɪŋg ə l ˈmaɪndə̇d◂/ [adjective]
someone who is single-minded works very hard in order to achieve one particular thing, and thinks that everything else is much less important :
▪ During a war, a leader must be single-minded and, if necessary, ruthless.
somebody’s single-minded pursuit of something
▪ Many athletes withdraw from the world in their single-minded pursuit of their sport.
single-minded determination/ambition/commitment
▪ Her single-minded commitment to the job meant that she had little time left for her family.
▷ strong-willed /ˌstrɒŋ ˈwɪld◂ǁˌstrɔːŋ-/ [adjective]
always very determined to do what you want to do, even if other people think it is not a good idea to do it :
▪ At seventy-nine, she is as strong-willed as she ever was.
▪ Sally was only 14, but Nick no longer knew how to handle his strong-willed young daughter.
▷ uncompromising /ʌnˈkɒmprəmaɪzɪŋǁ-ˈkɑːm-/ [adjective]
unwilling to change your opinions or intentions because you are sure you are right, even when other people think you are being unreasonable :
▪ At work, George was known as an uncompromising businessman.
▪ The District Officers were uncompromising in their opposition to the proposals of the wildlife conservationists.
▷ feisty /ˈfaɪsti/ [adjective]
someone who is feisty is determined to get what they want, and is not afraid of stating their opinion, or fighting for it :
▪ Davis was known in Hollywood as the feistiest actress of her day.
▪ Pavlov was feisty in his opposition to the Soviets, but, aware of his fame, they were forced to ignore his insults.
▪ Riordan frequented the restaurant for 40 years, coming back for the food and the feisty attitude of the staff.
▷ tough /tʌf/ [adjective]
someone who is tough is determined to succeed at anything they do, and does not let difficult or frightening situations stop them :
▪ My grandmother was a tough old lady, who lived through some very hard times.
▪ In games like this it is more important to be mentally tough, than physically fit.
▪ Voters traditionally believe that women are not as tough as men on crime and defense issues.
3. determined in a way that is annoying or silly
▷ stubborn /ˈstʌbəʳn/ [adjective]
someone who is stubborn refuses to change their mind about something, even when people think they are wrong or are being unreasonable :
▪ I told him it was a bad idea, but Dave’s so stubborn that he just never listens.
▪ a stubborn old man
stubbornly [adverb]
▪ My grandmother stubbornly refuses to eat any ‘foreign’ foods.
▷ obstinate /ˈɒbstɪnət, ˈɒbstənətǁˈɑːb-/ [adjective]
someone who is obstinate always does what they want and refuses to change their mind, even when this is annoying and unreasonable :
▪ How do you deal with an obstinate teenager who always says she isn’t hungry?
▪ You know I’m right really. You’re just being obstinate.
obstinately [adverb]
▪ She obstinately refused to admit she was wrong.
▷ pig-headed /ˌpɪg ˈhedə̇d◂/ [adjective] informal
use this about someone who refuses to change their mind when you think that what they want to do is stupid :
▪ He really was the most pig-headed man I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet.
▪ Don’t be so pig-headed! You can’t possibly drive home after the amount you’ve had to drink.
▷ headstrong /ˈhedstrɒŋǁ-strɔːŋ/ [adjective]
someone who is headstrong is very independent and wants to do things in the way that they want, without listening to other people’s advice or thinking about the results of their actions :
▪ Leo’s parents soon found that they were completely unable to control their headstrong son.
▪ Suzie was headstrong, and sometimes thoughtless of other people’s feelings.
▷ wilful British /willful American /ˈwɪlf ə l/ [adjective]
someone who is wilful, especially a child or young person, deliberately behaves badly by continuing to do what they want to do, even after they have been told to stop :
▪ Billy is a very wilful little boy who’s constantly being punished for not doing as he’s told.
▪ Sometimes kids who are described as difficult or wilful just need a little extra love and attention.
▷ not listen /nɒt ˈlɪs ə n/ [verb phrase]
if you say that someone will not listen, you mean that they refuse to accept other people’s helpful advice or opinions :
▪ I’ve told him again and again what I think, but he won’t listen.
not listen to reason
▪ Wait until she calms down. She’s far too upset at the moment to listen to reason.
4. extremely determined to do something, even if it is wrong
▷ go to any lengths/stop at nothing /gəʊ tʊ ˌenɪ ˈleŋθs, ˌstɒp ət ˈnʌθɪŋǁˌstɑːp-/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to be willing to do anything, even if it is cruel, dishonest, or illegal, in order to get what you want :
▪ He’s prepared to go to any lengths to find the men who killed his daughter.
▪ Lawrence would stop at nothing to achieve power and wealth.
▷ be hellbent on /biː ˌhelˈbent ɒn/ [verb phrase] informal
to be extremely determined to do something, especially something dangerous or something that may have a bad result :
be hellbent on doing something
▪ Bob’s hellbent on going through with the plan, even though it’s sure to end in disaster.
be hellbent on revenge/destruction
▪ Gangs of youths rampaged through the streets, hellbent on destruction.
▷ whatever the cost /wɒtˌevəʳ ðə ˈkɒstǁ-ˈkɔːst/ [adverb]
if you do something whatever the cost, you are determined to do it even if it causes a lot of problems or you have to spend a lot of money, use a lot of effort etc :
▪ I want him back here as soon as possible, whatever the cost.
▪ They are determined to win back the disputed territories, whatever the cost in human terms.
▷ come hell or high water /kʌm ˌhel ɔːʳ haɪ ˈwɔːtəʳ/ [adverb] spoken
use this to emphasize that you are determined to do something in spite of any problems or difficulties :
▪ I’ll be there in time. Don’t worry. Come hell or high water.
▪ Come hell or high water, he’d never missed a race and he wasn’t going to miss this one.
▷ ruthless /ˈruːθləs/ [adjective]
someone who is ruthless is so determined to get what they want, especially in business or politics, that they do not care if they harm other people :
▪ You should be careful of Ian - he can be pretty ruthless if anyone gets in his way.
▪ a ruthless and pitiless dictator
ruthlessly [adverb]
▪ She was an unfeeling, ruthlessly ambitious woman.
5. the ability to be determined
▷ determination /dɪˌtɜːʳmɪˈneɪʃ ə n, dɪˌtɜːʳməˈneɪʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
the ability to continue trying to achieve what you want, even when this is difficult :
▪ After the accident, Bill learned to walk again through sheer hard work and determination.
determination to do something
▪ A spokesman stressed the police’s determination to find the girl’s killer.
dogged determination
strong determination
▪ Success requires dogged determination, as well as ability.
▷ ambition /æmˈbɪʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
determination to become successful, rich, powerful, or famous :
▪ Eric wasn’t particularly intelligent but he had plenty of ambition.
▪ My teachers always told me that I lacked ambition, and would never get anywhere.
burning ambition
▪ Getting to the top hadn’t been easy, in spite of his burning ambition and will to succeed.
▷ willpower /ˈwɪlˌpaʊəʳ/ [uncountable noun]
the ability to control your mind and body in order to achieve whatever you decide to do :
▪ It takes a lot of willpower to give up smoking.
by/through sheer willpower
by willpower alone
▪ She made herself get better by sheer willpower, when everyone else had given up hope.
▷ will /wɪl/ [uncountable noun]
the strong desire to do or achieve something :
the will to live/recover/get better, etc
▪ When her husband died, she seemed to lose the will to live.
the will to do something
▪ They weren’t the best side in the European Cup, but they possessed the will to win.
▷ resolve /rɪˈzɒlvǁrɪˈzɑːlv, rɪˈzɔːlv/ [uncountable noun] formal
a strong determination to succeed in doing something especially because you are sure that it is a good thing to do :
somebody’s resolve to do something
▪ He restated his firm resolve to become president, and achieve clean and honest government.
strengthen/harden/stiffen somebody’s resolve
make it stronger
▪ The latest unemployment figures should strengthen the government’s resolve to do something about it.
▷ drive /draɪv/ [uncountable noun]
the determination and energy that makes you successfully achieve something :
▪ Without my mother’s drive and energy, our family would have starved.
▪ He’s clever enough, but he lacks drive.
▷ spirit /ˈspɪrɪt, ˈspɪrət/ [uncountable noun]
the courage and energy that someone shows when they are determined to achieve something or determined not to let a difficult situation make them stop trying :
▪ The fact that they reached the semi-final is a reflection of their spirit and commitment.
fighting spirit
brave determination to keep trying or fighting in a difficult situation
▪ She never once thought of giving up. Everyone admired her fighting spirit.
break somebody’s spirit
make them lose their determination to fight, be brave etc
▪ The hours of interrogations and beatings were designed to break his spirit.
▷ perseverance /ˌpɜːʳsɪˈvɪ ə rəns, ˌpɜːʳsəˈvɪ ə rəns/ [uncountable noun]
the ability to keep on trying to achieve something over a long period, even when this is difficult :
▪ The job requires perseverance and, above all, patience.
perseverance to do something
▪ Some of the girls did not have the perseverance to train to his standards of precision.
▷ tenacity /təˈnæsɪti, təˈnæsəti/ [uncountable noun] formal
the determination to never stop trying to succeed in something or to allow anyone to stop you from doing something :
▪ I admired him for his tenacity and his courage in confronting problems that other people might avoid.
show/exhibit tenacity
▪ The tenacity and ingenuity shown by these women’s groups during the war was remarkable.
6. behaviour that shows determination
▷ determined /dɪˈtɜːʳmɪnd, dɪˈtɜːʳmənd/ [adjective usually before noun]
determined effort (to do something)
▪ The world must make a more determined effort to stop the flow of arms to trouble spots.
determined resistance/opposition etc (from somebody)
▪ The proposal met with determined opposition from the government.
▷ stubborn /ˈstʌbəʳn/ [adjective usually before noun]
stubborn opposition/resistance/defence etc
when the people involved are very determined to get what they want in a difficult situation and refuse to let anyone change their mind :
▪ Despite stubborn opposition, the President managed to raise interest rates.
▪ The oil companies face stubborn resistance from environmentalists.
stubbornly [adverb]
▪ A small minority remained stubbornly opposed to the idea.
▷ steadfast /ˈstedfɑːstǁ-fæst/ [adjective]
steadfast actions or behaviour show that you are determined not to change your beliefs or your support for someone, especially because you want to be loyal to them :
steadfast belief/refusal/support etc
▪ Malta’s steadfast defence from 1940-43 played an important part in the course of the war.
▪ the steadfast support of America’s allies
remain steadfast in your belief/loyalty/determination etc
▪ As a politician, you have to show resilience - the ability to remain steadfast in your beliefs.
steadfastly [adverb]
▪ The town remained steadfastly loyal to the King.
▷ resolute /ˈrezəluːt/ [adjective]
resolute actions or behaviour show that you are strongly determined not to change your opinions or intentions, even though other people want you to change them :
▪ Tough policies and resolute leadership always create enemies.
resolute action/measures/opposition etc
▪ In the face of resolute opposition, the bill was withdrawn in November.
stand resolute
▪ The players stood resolute in the hope of having their former agreement renewed.
resolutely [adverb]
▪ Theirs is a resolutely nomadic culture.
▷ dogged /ˈdɒgɪd, ˈdɒgədǁˈdɔː-/ [adjective usually before noun]
dogged actions or behaviour show that you are very determined to continue doing something, even though it is difficult or takes a long time, and refuse to let others prevent you :
dogged determination/persistence/insistence etc
▪ In the end we succeeded, through dogged determination plus a bit of good luck.
▪ The dogged persistence of the police finally paid off when Hooper told them what he knew.
doggedly [adverb]
▪ For ten years the men doggedly maintained that they were innocent.