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continue
[kuhn-tin-yoo]
verb (used without object)
to go on after suspension or interruption.
The program continued after an intermission.
to go on or keep on, as in some course or action; extend.
The road continues for three miles.
Antonyms: ceaseto last or endure.
The strike continued for two months.
to remain in a particular state or capacity.
The general agreed to continue in command of the army.
to remain in a place; abide; stay.
Let us continue in this house forever.
verb (used with object)
to go on with or persist in.
to continue an action.
to carry on from the point of suspension or interruption.
He continued the concert after the latecomers were seated.
to extend from one point to another in space; prolong.
to say in continuation.
to cause to last or endure; maintain or retain, as in a position.
to carry over, postpone, or adjourn; keep pending, as a legal proceeding.
continue
/ kənˈtɪnjuː /
verb
(when tr, may take an infinitive) to remain or cause to remain in a particular condition, capacity, or place
(when tr, may take an infinitive) to carry on uninterruptedly (a course of action); persist in (something)
he continued running
(when tr, may take an infinitive) to resume after an interruption
we'll continue after lunch
to draw out or be drawn out; prolong or be prolonged
continue the chord until it meets the tangent
(tr) law to postpone or adjourn (legal proceedings)
Other Word Forms
- continuer noun
- continuingly adverb
- continuable adjective
- noncontinuable adjective
- noncontinuably adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of continue1
Word History and Origins
Origin of continue1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
He cut the vice president’s microphone and threw to commercial over Vance’s continued objections.
Mandhana was the chief aggressor, top-scoring with 80 off 66 balls, while a string of cameos from India's middle order continued the assault.
This week, as the government shutdown continues into its second week, earnings season kicks into high gear, giving investors something to chew on, absent economic data from the federal government.
This week, as the government shutdown continues into its second week, earnings season kicks into high gear, giving investors something to chew on, absent economic data from the federal government.
It was accomplished while the Israel Defense Forces still control much of Gaza and can continue pressing Hamas to comply with other parts of the day-after plan.
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Related Words
When To Use
Continue entered English around 1300–50. Coming into English through French, continue ultimately comes from the Latin continuāre, meaning “to make all one, join together, connect.” This verb could also mean, much like its English derivative, “to carry on, draw out, prolong, last”—that is, to continue.The Latin verb continuāre is formed from the adjective continuus. Does continuus look familiar? It’s the direct source of the English continuous, meaning “uninterrupted in time; without cessation” or “being in immediate connection or spatial relationship.”The Latin adjective continuus meant “uninterrupted, unbroken, continuous.” That’s right: continuus meant, well, continuous. Sometimes, there is a great a deal of continuity in word development.But we’re not done yet. The Latin continuus is itself ultimately based on another verb, continēre, “to hold or keep together.” So, something that continues—that is, it goes on, keeps on, or endures in some way—stays all held together, in an etymological manner of speaking.Dig deeperWe noted above that continue is ultimately connected to continēre, “to hold together.” Continēre is the source of some other familiar English words, including contain, continent, and content. Does knowing that all these words come from a verb meaning “to hold together” give you any deeper insights into these words?For all this talk of holding things together, we can, er, continue breaking apart the roots of the Latin verb continēre. It is composed of con-, a productive prefix with the sense of “with, together,” and tenēre, “to hold.”Derivations of tenēre appears in a great many English words, including detain, detention, entertain, tenacious, tenant, tenet, retain, retention, sustain, and sustenance.But don’t be fooled. While detain is related to detention and retain to retention, contain is not related to contention, or “strife, contest, controversy.” Contention is derived from the same Latin root that gives English contend.
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