remain

[ri-meyn]

verb (used without object)

1. to continue in the same state; continue to be as specified.

   to remain at peace.

   Synonyms: stay, abide

2. to stay behind or in the same place.

   to remain at home;

   I'll remain here when you go to the airport.

   Synonyms: rest, tarry, wait
   Antonyms: depart

3. to be left after the removal, loss, destruction, etc., of all else.

   The front wall is all that remains of the fort.

   Synonyms: abide, endure

4. to be left to be done, told, shown, etc..

   Only the dishwashing remains.

5. to be reserved or in store.

noun

1. Usually remains. something that remains or is left.

2. remains,

   1. miscellaneous, fragmentary, or other writings still unpublished at the time of an author's death.

   2. traces of some quality, condition, etc.

   3. a dead body; corpse.

   4. parts or substances remaining from animal or plant life that occur in the earth's crust or strata.

      fossil remains;

      organic remains.

remain

/ rɪˈmeɪn /

verb

1. to stay behind or in the same place

   to remain at home

   only Tom remained

2. (copula) to continue to be

   to remain cheerful

3. to be left, as after use, consumption, the passage of time, etc

   a little wine still remained in the bottle

4. to be left to be done, said, etc

   it remains to be pointed out

Other Word Forms

• unremaining adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of remain¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English remainen, from Anglo-French remain-, stressed stem of Middle French remanoir, from Latin remanēre, equivalent to re- re- + manēre “to stay”; manor

Word History and Origins

Origin of remain¹

C14: from Old French remanoir , from Latin remanēre to be left, from _re- + manēre to stay

Synonym Study

See continue.

Example Sentences

The general manager of the historic topless bar was recently shot outside his Santa Rosa home, and his killer, for now, remains a mystery.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“That fire burned deep within the ground, in roots and in structure, and remained active for several days,” Cooper said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was ordered to appear again for a preliminary hearing on Thursday morning and remains in custody, according to court records.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Asylum seekers are housed by the UK Home Office but, after they are granted leave to remain and become refugees, that support quickly expires.

Read more on BBC

"They're polite, but they want to catch the traitors, and the traitors want to remain undetected, and both parties are excellent at what they do."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• continue 
• endure 
• go on 
• hover 
• last 
• linger 
• live 
• persist 
• prevail 
• stand 
• stop 
• survive 
• wait