remain

1 of 2

verb

re·​main ri-ˈmān 

remained; remaining; remains

intransitive verb

1

a

: to be a part not destroyed, taken, or used up

only a few ruins remain

b

: to be something yet to be shown, done, or treated

it remains to be seen

2

: to stay in the same place or with the same person or group

especially : to stay behind

3

: to continue unchanged

the fact remains that we can't go

remain

2 of 2

noun

1

remains plural : a dead body

2

: a remaining part or trace

—usually used in plural

3

obsolete : stay

Synonyms

Verb

• abide
• dwell
• hang around
• stay
• stick around
• tarry

Noun

• ashes
• debris
• detritus
• flotsam
• residue
• rubble
• ruins
• wreck
• wreckage

Examples of remain in a Sentence

Verb

Little remained after the fire.

Only two minutes still remain in the game.

The question remains: who fired the shot?

She remained in Boston after she finished college.

The soldiers were ordered to remain at their posts.

I remained behind after the class had ended.

He remained with the team.

Noun

the remains of the house ripped apart by the tornado littered the block for weeks afterward

archaeologists discovered the remains of an Incan woman and carefully excavated her burial site, which promised to yield important clues about her status

gathered up the remains of the buffet and delivered them to a local homeless shelter

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In the wake of Friday's news, TikTok content creators are wasting no time advising followers to find them on other platforms, as the social media app's future remains murky. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, as rescuers remain focused on nursing the Muddy River's wildlife back to health, officials are continuing their investigation into the cause of the spill. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Noun

That Apex grew to an advanced age provides a valuable opportunity for paleontology, because its remains can reveal insights on metabolism and growth rate throughout the creature’s lifetime. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024

The remains of a stegosaurus—now known as Apex—have a new home in N.Y.C’s American Museum of Natural History, where they will be displayed beginning this weekend, the Associated Press reports. —Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French remaindre, from Latin remanēre, from re- + manēre to remain — more at mansion

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing remain

• remain to be seen
• right to remain silent

Kids Definition

remain

1 of 2 verb

re·​main ri-ˈmān 

1

a

: to be a part not destroyed, taken, or used up

little remained after the fire

b

: to be something yet to be shown, done, or treated

that remains to be seen

2

: to stay in the same place or with the same person or group

especially : to stay behind

3

: to continue unchanged

the weather remained cold

remain

2 of 2 noun

1

: whatever is left over or behind

—usually used in plural

the remains of a meal

2

plural : a dead body