Showing results for "remains"

• present tense form of remain (3rd person singular).

remains

British  

/ rɪˈmeɪnz /

plural noun

1. any pieces, scraps, fragments, etc, that are left unused or still extant, as after use, consumption, the passage of time, etc

   the remains of a meal

   archaeological remains

2. the body of a dead person; corpse

3. Also called: literary remains.  the unpublished writings of an author at the time of his or her death

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Explanation

The word remains can mean a dead body, so a detective might investigate to find out if some bones found in a lake are human or non-human remains. You can also use remains to mean the part of something that's left behind after the rest has been used or thrown away. So the remains of your birthday cake might just be some crumbs and melted candles, and the remains of a building after an earthquake could consist of a crumbling foundation. In a murder mystery, though, remains are likely to be human bodies.

Example Sentences

It remains unclear if authorities believe the ransom notes are authentic, but the Guthrie family have stated they believe the letters, which were sent to local news media and national outlets like TMZ, were real.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

And it secures him a spot in the club of executives making $100 million or more, a group that remains rare.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

Despite inflation, consumer spending remains robust, partly due to a historically low household debt-service burden.

From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026

Whether Zambada has informed U.S. prosecutors about corrupt Mexican officials remains publicly unknown.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026

As punishment for killing the bird, the old sailor of the poem’s title was forced to wear its gruesome remains as a necktie.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• debris
• remnant