From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishinsistin‧sist /ɪnˈsɪst/ ●●● S3 W2 verb [intransitive] 1 TRUEto say firmly and often that something is true, especially when other people think it may not be trueinsist (that) Mike insisted that he was right. His friends insisted he had no connection with drugs.insist on something She kept insisting on her innocence.2 INSISTto demand that something should happen Stay for supper – I insist!insist (that) somebody should do something They insisted that everyone should come to the party. He insisted I should take a taxi.insist on something 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 insist4 → insist on doing somethingGRAMMAR: Patterns with insist• You insist on something: She insists on her own bedroom.• You insist on doing something: She insists on having her own bedroom. ✗Don’t say: She insists her own bedroom.• In everyday English, you insist that someone does something: I insist that he waits.• In formal English, you insist that someone do something, using the base form of the verb (=infinitive without ‘to’): I insist that he wait.• You use the base form of the verb when talking about the past: I insisted that he wait. In everyday English, people also say: I insisted that he waited.• You insist that someone should do something: They insisted that I should join them. This pattern is often used in the past, when reporting what someone has insisted.THESAURUSinsist to say firmly that someone should do something or that something should happenShe insisted that it was her turn to drive.demand to say very strongly and sometimes angrily that you want something or that something must happenI wrote a letter to the company, demanding an apology and a refund.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 itThe 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 youThe 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 askYou’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 somethingEd was talking about dropping out of school, but Mom and Dad put their foot down. → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
insist• "I really need to speak to you now." "Oh, all right if you insist."• We hadn't intended to stay for another drink, but our host insisted.• I didn't want to tell dad about the fight, but he insisted.• Let me pay this time. I insist.• He was a religious man who insisted his children went to church every Sunday.• Many workers now insist on a smoke-free environment.• The man insisted on helping me find a taxi even though I told him I didn't need any help.• Though there are no other witnesses, she insists she saw a man in the yard that night.• I wanted to pay by cheque but the landlord insisted that I pay him in cash.• UFO spotters will always insist that their data is correct.• Mom always insists that we keep our rooms neat.• They're insisting we report the matter to the police right away.insist on something• Finally, he insisted on carrying it.• She insisted on cleaning my flat very thoroughly every Tuesday and Thursday, and often left me a casserole in the oven.• For example, insisting on conditions that would in theory make the employment of women more likely often has the opposite effect.• Together the two books test what can be gained and lost by insisting on either innocence or experience.• I declined, but she insisted on following me for several hundred yards.• Surely Harrison would have insisted on having it pose with him.• Tanya insists on moving in many circles and, above all, on thinking for herself.• In fact, the only thing likely to take any time is deciding which to have. Insist on the best.insist (that) somebody should do something• As his more vocal opponents began to demand his resignation, Wahid insisted he still had Megawati's support.• But suppose I insisted that he was uttering a falsehood.• But the Abingdon-based company behind many of Oxford's barfly promotions insists it is safe.• Darr insists, however, that his group lagged behind the opposition, Concerned Citizens for Metro Nashville, until recent days.• Garryowen's ebullient chairman Frank Hogan insists there will be no change of policy.• He insisted it be given a decent burial and immediately got another cat to replace it.• Why did you not disclose the loss of confidentiality in the doctor-patient relationship on which these companies insist?Origin insist (1500-1600) Latin insistere “to stand on, continue with determination”, from sistere “to stand” 