CONTINUAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does continual mean? 

• CONTINUAL (adjective)
  The adjective CONTINUAL has 2 senses:

1. recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series

2. having no interruptions

  Familiarity information: CONTINUAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTINUAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series

Context example:

the continual banging of the shutters

Similar:

insistent; repetitive (repetitive and persistent)

running (continually repeated over a period of time)

perennial; recurrent; repeated (recurring again and again)

persistent; relentless; unrelenting (never-ceasing)

recurring; revenant (coming back)

Antonym:

sporadic (recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having no interruptions

Context example:

'continual' is often used interchangeably with 'continuous'

Similar:

continuous; uninterrupted (continuing in time or space without interruption)

 Context examples 

I deserve to be under a continual blush all the rest of my life.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Besides which, the walls were not thick, and, whenever he passed the evening at our house, we always knew of it by hearing one continual growl in the kitchen.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She often told herself it was folly, before she could harden her nerves sufficiently to feel the continual discussion of the Crofts and their business no evil.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

This entire month seems to be a highly creative time for you, provided that you screen out people who waste your time, or worse, give you continual advice or criticism.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The promised visit from “her friend,” as Edmund called Miss Crawford, was a formidable threat to Fanny, and she lived in continual terror of it.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She can have no idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The combination of simultaneous resorption and deposition creates continual remodeling of bone while excess osteoclast activity leads to an imbalance and a loss of bone density, causing osteoporosis.

(Bone Remodeling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

A response that indicates a state of continual concern.

(Constant Concern, NCI Thesaurus)

But at length she was secured by the exertions of Elinor, who greatly disapproved such continual seclusion.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

She had never spoken to Marie about it, but many little signs had convinced the maid that her mistress lived in a state of continual nervous apprehension.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)