remain
rih-MAYN
Remain (verb) means to stay in the same place, condition, or state without changing. Example: “If you remain in your seat, the steward will bring you a drink.”
verb
1
To stay in the same place, condition, or state without changing.
"If you remain in your seat, the steward will bring you a drink."
"The museum will remain open until nine tonight."
"Despite the criticism, she remained calm throughout the interview."
2
To be left over after everything else has been used, removed, or dealt with.
"After the party, only crumbs remained on the plates."
"Once the bills are paid, very little money will remain for holidays."
"Only a few tickets remain for Saturday's show."
How to use remain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStaying put or staying the same, or being what's left after everything else is gone.
Common pairings
remain calm
remain open
remain unchanged
much remains to be done
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Word forms
- Plural
- remains
- Third person singular
- remains
- Past tense
- remained
- Archaic forms
- remainest, remainedst, remaineth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
If you _____ in your seat, the steward will bring you a drink.
Etymology
From Old French remanoir, from Latin remanere — re- ("back") + manere ("to stay").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for remain
See all rhymes for remain →Frequently asked questions
What does “remain” mean?
The word “remain” means to stay in the same place, condition, or state without changing. In plain terms, staying put or staying the same, or being what's left after everything else is gone.
How do you pronounce “remain”?
“Remain” is pronounced rih-MAYN (/ɹɪˈmeɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “remain” in a sentence?
Here is “remain” used in a sentence: “The museum will remain open until nine tonight.”
What is another word for “remain”?
Words with a similar meaning to “remain” include stay, tarry, last, stand, bide and wait.
What is the opposite of “remain”?
The opposite of “remain” — its antonyms — are leave, be taken and be removed.
What part of speech is “remain”?
“Remain” is a verb.
Where does the word “remain” come from?
The word “remain” comes from Latin. From Old French remanoir, from Latin remanere — re- ("back") + manere ("to stay").
Is “remain” a common word?
“Remain” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between remain and stay?
They overlap and are often interchangeable. Stay is the everyday word, especially for staying in a place — 'stay here.' Remain is a little more formal and works well for conditions or states, as in 'remain calm' or 'questions remain.' Both mean to continue in the same place or state.
What is the difference between remain and remainder?
Remain is a verb meaning to stay or be left. Remainder is a noun meaning the part that is left over. So people or things remain, and what is left is the remainder — 'two guests remained, and the remainder had gone home.' One describes the action, the other the leftover amount.
What is an example of remain in a sentence?
You might say, 'Please remain seated until the plane stops,' meaning stay as you are. Other examples include 'the shop will remain open all week' or 'much work remains to be done,' where remain shows that something continues in the same place, condition, or state.
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