# continue

/kənˈtɪnju/ (US) · /kəntˈɪnjuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/continue
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to keep doing something

verb · CEFR A2

to keep doing something or to stay in the same state without stopping.

For teachers: to maintain an action, state, or condition without interruption.

- The rain continued all through the night and into the morning.
- Despite the technical difficulties during the first act, the performers continued the show with remarkable professionalism.

### 2. to start again

verb · CEFR B1

to start an activity again after a break or interruption.

For teachers: to resume an activity or narrative after a pause or suspension.

- We will continue our meeting after a short break for lunch.
- The trial is expected to continue tomorrow morning once the witness has been properly briefed by legal counsel.

### 3. to postpone a case

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to move a legal case or meeting to a later date.

For teachers: to adjourn or postpone a legal proceeding to a future date. Often used in the passive voice.

- The judge decided to continue the case until next month.
- The defense attorney requested that the hearing be continued to allow more time for the discovery of forensic evidence.

Usage: In legal contexts, this is often used as a transitive verb meaning to delay.

### 4. gaming restart

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

an option in a video game to keep playing after you lose all your lives.

For teachers: a feature in electronic games allowing a player to resume play from a specific point after a 'game over' state.

- I only had one continue left, so I had to play very carefully.
- The arcade version of the game offered unlimited continues, but the home console port limited the player to three attempts per session.

## Examples

- We will continue the meeting after lunch.
- The rain is expected to continue throughout the night, so please keep your windows closed.
- Despite several technical setbacks during the initial phase, the research team decided to continue their investigation into the long-term effects of the new medication.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.