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View synonyms for remain

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 miscellaneous, fragmentary, or other writings still unpublished at the time of an author's death.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



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Other Words From

  • unre·maining adjective

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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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of remain1

C14: from Old French remanoir , from Latin remanēre to be left, from re- + manēre to stay

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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Fossils eroding out of footprint-bearing sediment included remains of elephants and large gazelles called oryxes, but not humans.

When fires burn up vegetation, the charred remains become hydrophobic—meaning they repel away any water.

Until now, the oldest remains of an ancient gibbon species consisted of a small number of teeth found in China, which date from around 7 million to 9 million years ago.

She’s a bioarchaeologist — someone who studies human history through research on human remains.

Its remains will then be smeared out into a system of rings, like the rings of Saturn but smaller and darker.

Any plans to grow her exercise movement must, she insists, remain “completely organic.”

To those who agreed with him, Bush pledged that the law against same-sex marriage would remain intact.

The people who are involved in the violence, they figure out ways to remain here at all costs and continue causing trouble.

But the qualities Mario Cuomo brought to public life—compassion, integrity, commitment to principle—remain in short supply today.

Instead, black models are required to remain meekly, silently off stage, waiting for a turn that may never come.

As long as may be necessary, Sam,” replied Mr. Pickwick, “you have my full permission to remain.

I had it put in order whilst you were in London; it was a shame to let a sacred place remain in such a state.

The observer might well remain perplexed at the pathetic discord between human work and human wants.

But the quiet old town, with its musical name and its great orchestra, will long remain in my memory.

And having nothing in their minds which seeks utterance, they remain quiet.

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