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 miscellaneous, fragmentary, or other writings still unpublished at the time of an author's death.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

Today the Sudan remains, in Mr. Hart’s sobering assessment, “one of the most dangerous places on the earth.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As part of the arrangement, Chesney is expected to remain with his current team through a possible College Football Playoff appearance with the Dukes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If he played his cards right, he would only need to make one more stop in the remaining 50 laps.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Separately, the EFL and Sheffield Wednesday remain in discussions regarding its appeal against the fee restriction, which is currently set to run until the end of the winter 2027 transfer window.

Read more on BBC

The announcement initially raised concerns that hundreds of planes would need to be grounded for long periods, but Airbus said Monday that fewer than 100 planes remained immobilised.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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