remain
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to continue to be in a specific condition or state.
v.to continue in a particular state or condition. Often functions as a copular verb followed by an adjective or noun phrase.
Simple“Despite the loud noise outside, the baby remained asleep in her crib.”
In context“The investigators noted that the suspect remained remarkably calm throughout the interrogation, never once raising his voice or showing signs of agitation.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to stay in a place after other people have left.
v.to stay in a place after others have departed or after a portion has been removed.
Simple“Only a few students remained in the classroom after the bell rang.”
In context“While most of the refugees fled across the border, a small group of elders remained in the village to protect their ancestral homes.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to be left when the other parts are gone or have been used.
v.to be left after a part or quantity has been subtracted, used, or destroyed.
Simple“Very little of the original castle remains today except for one stone tower.”
In context“After the budget cuts were implemented, only enough funding remained to support the most essential community services.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the parts of something that are left after the rest has been used or destroyed.
n.the parts or portions of something that are left over after the main part has been removed or destroyed. Usually plural.
Simple“We ate the remains of the Sunday roast for lunch on Monday.”
In context“Archaeologists discovered the remains of a Roman villa beneath the modern shopping centre during the excavation.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.the body of a person who has died.
n.the physical body of a deceased person. Always plural; formal and respectful in register.
Simple“The soldier's remains were returned to his family for a private funeral.”
In context“Forensic experts were called to the site to identify the human remains found by the hikers in the remote forest.”
Usage remain stable · remained unclear · remain open
From Middle English remainen, from Old French remain-, stressed stem of remanoir, from Latin remaneō, maneō, from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to stay”). Displaced native Middle English beliven, bliven (“to remain”) (from Old English belīfan (“to remain, stay”)) due to confluence with related Middle English beleven (“to leave behind”), with which it merged. More at beleave and belive.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.