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  the unpublished writings of an author at the time of his or her death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

However, analysts who spoke with MarketWatch insisted that the fundamental bull case for chip stocks remains extremely compelling.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

Whether such words in public and, in all likelihood, behind closed doors will be enough to reinforce the Anglo-American alliance remains to be seen.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Champagne said the government’s plan remains focused on “making sure the projects that build our nation move forward, and that people have the support they need to get ahead, especially those affected by unjust tariffs.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Oliviero said Audacy remains committed to the format, which has a significant number of listeners through the station’s app and other streaming platforms.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

The beach had been fully cleared of the remains of fish by hungry birds, and everyone was either at home resting or going about their day in town.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook

Related Words

• debris
• remnant