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  the unpublished writings of an author at the time of his or her death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

Strontium and oxygen isotopes preserved in human remains act like chemical fingerprints tied to local environments.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

"Jonathan Larson's musical remains as powerful and resonant as ever, and Luke has found a way to honour its legacy while making it feel thrillingly fresh for today's audiences," they said in the announcement.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

“The long-term opportunity is large because current penetration remains extremely low,” says Nagesh, assessing that penetration at 0.01%.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

But human development and the wildfires we create have destroyed swaths of their habitat, and climate change is threatening to make much of what remains inhospitable.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

“In the meantime, we are searching the area for Alexis Nichole Blake around the clock. We have every reason to believe that she remains nearby. After all—” General Sharpe seems to look right at me.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• debris
• remnant