Pervasive
/pərˈveɪsɪv/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Pervasive means that something is found all around or is very common in a place or group. It often describes things like feelings, ideas, smells, or problems that affect many parts of an area or many people.
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See It in Action
Present or spread through every part of something
- •The smell of fresh bread was pervasive throughout the bakery.
- •Corruption was pervasive in the government at that time.
- •A sense of excitement was pervasive among the crowd.
Very common or widespread in a group or area
- •Technology has become pervasive in our daily lives.
- •Negative attitudes can be pervasive in some workplaces.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "pervasive" like "everywhere," but used to describe how something spreads or exists in many places at once
- ✓Picture a strong smell in a room that you can notice no matter where you stand
- ✓It's the feeling when a problem or idea is so common it touches everything you see or think about
- ✓Sounds like "per-VAY-sive" → imagine something like a wave or mist that moves and fills every corner
- ✓Think of stories where a mood or feeling fills a whole house, like fear or happiness that you can feel everywhere
- ✓NOT like "rare" or "few" — pervasive means very common or widespread
- ✓NOT like "visible" only in one place — pervasive means it is present throughout many places or parts
- ✓NOT like "temporary" — pervasive things often last or affect a large area or group for a long time
Try Other Words
- •Widespread: existing or happening in many places or among many people (Use when you want to emphasize how common something is across a large area)
- •Common: found often or frequently (Use when the thing is usual but not necessarily filling all parts)
- •Universal: present everywhere or for everyone (Use when something applies to all people or situations without exception)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "per-" means "through" or "completely"
- •Root "vade" comes from Latin "vadere," meaning "to go" or "to walk"
- •Suffix "-ive" turns the word into an adjective meaning "having the quality of"
- •Origin: From Latin "pervasivus," meaning "to go through or spread through"
- •The word developed to describe things that spread fully through a space or group, not just in one part
Reflect & Connect
•In what situations can a feeling or idea be described as pervasive in your life or community?
•How can recognizing something as pervasive help us understand its importance or difficulty?
Fill in the blanks
1.The smell of smoke was pervasive ___ the entire building, making it hard to breathe.
2.When a problem is pervasive, it usually affects ___ many people or areas, not just one spot.
3.Fear was pervasive ___ the room after the loud noise, and everyone felt uneasy.
4.Unlike a small problem, a pervasive issue needs ___ attention because it spreads widely.
5.The company's pervasive use of technology means employees ___ rely on computers every day.
6.When happiness is pervasive, it can ___ the mood of an entire group or community.
7.A pervasive idea often spreads ___ quickly because it touches many parts of life.