in ‧ sist S3 W2 /ɪnˈsɪst/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ insist ; noun : ↑ insistence ; adverb : ↑ insistently ; adjective : ↑ insistent ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: insistere 'to stand on, continue with determination' , from sistere 'to stand' ]
1 . to say firmly and often that something is true, especially when other people think it may not be true
insist (that)
Mike insisted that he was right.
His friends insisted he had no connection with drugs.
insist on
She kept insisting on her innocence.
2 . to demand that something should happen:
Stay for supper – I insist!
insist (that)
They insisted that everyone should come to the party.
He insisted I should take a taxi.
insist on
We insist on the highest standards of cleanliness in the hotel.
insist on/upon doing something
He insisted upon checking everything himself.
3 . if you insist spoken used when agreeing to do something that you do not really want to do:
‘Why don’t you call them up today?’ ‘Oh, if you insist!’
4 . insist on doing something to keep doing something, especially something that is inconvenient or annoying:
She will insist on washing her hair just when I want to have a bath.
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THESAURUS
▪ insist to say firmly that someone should do something or that something should happen:
She insisted that it was her turn to drive.
▪ demand to say very strongly and sometimes angrily that you want something or that something must happen:
I wrote a letter to the company, demanding an apology and a refund.
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The guards demanded to see her ID.
▪ require [usually passive] formal if you are required to do something, a rule or law says that you must do it:
The successful applicant will be required to sign a two-year contract.
▪ be adamant to say very firmly that something must happen or is right, and refuse to change your mind when other people try to persuade you:
The actress has always been adamant about keeping her private life private.
▪ won’t take no for an answer informal to insist that someone must do what you say or ask:
You’re coming home with me – I won’t take no for an answer.
▪ put your foot down to say very firmly that someone must not do something:
Ed was talking about dropping out of school, but Mom and Dad put their foot down.