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Synonyms

remain

American  
[ri-meyn] / rɪˈmeɪn /

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 miscellaneous, fragmentary, or other writings still unpublished at the time of an author's death.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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See continue.

Other Word Forms

  • unremaining adjective

Etymology

Origin of remain

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In Florida, where 52 active Superfund sites remain, concerns raised by local communities helped bring the issue into focus.

From Science Daily

Survival outcomes remain poor, with only 43% of patients living five years or longer after diagnosis.

From Science Daily

But the big question remains: "Will it get delayed again?"

From BBC

Local media outlet Peru21 reports that "hundreds" of tourists remain at the scene awaiting evacuation, which has been "hampered" by difficult terrain around the crash site.

From BBC

South Korea’s headline inflation eased slightly in December but remained above the central bank’s 2% target for a fourth consecutive month.

From The Wall Street Journal