adjective
continuous
kuhn-TIHN-yoo-uhs
adjective
1
Going on without any break or interruption.
"The factory runs on a continuous production line, 24 hours a day."
"She felt a continuous dull ache in her lower back all week."
2
In grammar, describing a verb form that shows an action still in progress.
""Is running" is an example of the present continuous tense."
How to Use Continuous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHappening non-stop, with no gaps or pauses.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "continual," which usually means repeated often but with breaks in between (e.g. "continual interruptions"), whereas "continuous" means unbroken.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
continuous improvement
continuous flow
continuous line
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The factory runs on a _____ production line, 24 hours a day.
Etymology
From Latin continuus ("connected, unbroken"), from continere, "to hold together." It pushed out the old native English word singal for the same idea.