remote

[ri-moht]

adjective

remoter, remotest 

1. far apart; far distant in space; situated at some distance away.

   the remote jungles of Brazil.

   Antonyms: near, close

2. out-of-the-way; secluded.

   a remote village;

   a remote mountaintop.

   Synonyms: solitary, apart, removed, isolated

3. (of an electronic device or technical process) operating or controlled from a distance, as by remote control.

   a remote camera.

4. not direct, primary, or proximate; not directly involved or influential.

   the remote causes of the war.

5. slight or faint; unlikely.

   The committee doesn't have the remotest idea of how to address the basic issue.

   So with two games remaining, we actually have a remote chance of making the play-offs.

   Synonyms: doubtful

6. noting or relating to work, schooling, or other activities that take place away from their usual place, site, or building: Teachers have distance learning lessons prepared in advance for weather emergencies that necessitate remote instruction.

   The company allows remote work for freelancers, but full-time employees are expected to work on site.

   Teachers have distance learning lessons prepared in advance for weather emergencies that necessitate remote instruction.

7. reserved and distant in manner; not warmly cordial; aloof.

   Synonyms: withdrawn, retiring, reticent

8. far off; abstracted; removed.

   principles remote from actions.

9. distant in time.

   remote antiquity.

10. distant in relationship or connection.

    a remote ancestor.

noun

1. Radio and Television.,  a broadcast, usually live, from a location outside a studio.

2. remote control.

remote

/ rɪˈməʊt /

adjective

1. located far away; distant

2. far from any centre of population, society, or civilization; out-of-the-way

3. distant in time

4. distantly related or connected

   a remote cousin

5. removed, as from the source or point of action

6. slight or faint (esp in the phrases not the remotest idea, a remote chance )

7. (of a person's manner) aloof or abstracted

8. operated from a distance; remote-controlled

   a remote monitor

Other Word Forms

• remoteness noun
• remotely adverb
• unremote adjective
• unremoteness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of remote¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin remōtus, past participle of removēre “to move back”; remove, motion

Word History and Origins

Origin of remote¹

C15: from Latin remōtus far removed, from removēre , from _re- + movēre to move

Example Sentences

John Fritz was 10 when he and his family fled to a remote cabin to wait out the crisis.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The former French colony became a one-party communist state, King Savang Vatthana died in captivity, and centralised planning was imposed on the economy as landlocked Laos, always remote, became increasingly isolated.

Read more on Barron's

Starting in the early 2000s, hundreds of thousands of troops landed in remote bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Encrypting data and sending it through remote servers can slow down your connection and increase latency, especially during peak hours or if the server is located far away.

Read more on Salon

Brand new craft sets, remote controlled cars, soft toys, lego are especially helpful, she said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• distant 
• far-flung 
• far-off 
• faraway 
• inaccessible 
• isolated 
• lonely 
• lonesome 
• obscure 
• outlying 
• private 
• secluded 
• unknown