remote

[ ri-moht ]

adjective

, re·mot·er, re·mot·est.

1. far apart; far distant in space; situated at some distance away:

   the remote jungles of Brazil.

   Antonyms: near, close

2. out-of-the-way; secluded:

   a remote village;

   a remote mountaintop.

   Synonyms: solitary, apart, removed, isolated

3. (of an electronic device or technical process) operating or controlled from a distance, as by remote control:

   a remote camera.

4. not direct, primary, or proximate; not directly involved or influential:

   the remote causes of the war.

5. slight or faint; unlikely:

   The committee doesn't have the remotest idea of how to address the basic issue.

   So with two games remaining, we actually have a remote chance of making the play-offs.

   Synonyms: doubtful

6. noting or relating to work, schooling, or other activities that take place away from their usual place, site, or building: Teachers have distance learning lessons prepared in advance for weather emergencies that necessitate remote instruction.

   The company allows remote work for freelancers, but full-time employees are expected to work on site.

   Teachers have distance learning lessons prepared in advance for weather emergencies that necessitate remote instruction.

7. reserved and distant in manner; not warmly cordial; aloof.

   Synonyms: withdrawn, retiring, reticent

8. far off; abstracted; removed:

   principles remote from actions.

9. distant in time:

   remote antiquity.

10. distant in relationship or connection:

    a remote ancestor.

noun

1. Radio and Television. a broadcast, usually live, from a location outside a studio.
2. remote control ( def 2 ).

remote

/ rɪˈməʊt /

adjective

1. located far away; distant
2. far from any centre of population, society, or civilization; out-of-the-way
3. distant in time
4. distantly related or connected

   a remote cousin

5. removed, as from the source or point of action
6. slight or faint (esp in the phrases not the remotest idea, a remote chance )
7. (of a person's manner) aloof or abstracted
8. operated from a distance; remote-controlled

   a remote monitor

Derived Forms

• reˈmoteness, noun
• reˈmotely, adverb

Other Words From

• re·mote·ly adverb
• re·mote·ness noun
• un·re·mote adjective
• un·re·mote·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of remote¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin remōtus, past participle of removēre “to move back”; remove, motion

Word History and Origins

Origin of remote¹

C15: from Latin remōtus far removed, from removēre , from re- + movēre to move

Example Sentences

Evidently aware of this problem, Ramaswamy has promised to take measures that will encourage government employees to quit voluntarily, either by relocating their workplaces away from Washington or restricting remote work opportunities.

From Salon

They had all watched proceedings and given evidence from a remote evidence facility throughout the trial.

From BBC

West Coast saw a tsunami advisory was in January 2022, Snider said, after the eruption of an underwater volcano in a remote corner of the South Pacific touched off a powerful tsunami.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead climate change is frequently depicted in the abstract, as an extremely complicated scientific process, and this causes many readers to feel remote from the consequences.

From Salon

Rural health care access is especially abysmal, with mortality rates in remote areas far exceeding those in more urban contexts.

From Salon

Related Words

• distant
• far-flung
• far-off
• faraway
• inaccessible
• isolated
• lonely
• lonesome
• obscure
• outlying
• private
• secluded
• unknown