# remain

/ɹiˈmeɪn/ (US) · /ɹɪmˈeɪn/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to stay in a state

verb · CEFR B1

to continue to be in a specific condition or state.

For teachers: to continue in a particular state or condition. Often functions as a copular verb followed by an adjective or noun phrase.

- Despite the loud noise outside, the baby remained asleep in her crib.
- The investigators noted that the suspect remained remarkably calm throughout the interrogation, never once raising his voice or showing signs of agitation.

### 2. to stay behind

verb · CEFR B1

to stay in a place after other people have left.

For teachers: to stay in a place after others have departed or after a portion has been removed.

- Only a few students remained in the classroom after the bell rang.
- While most of the refugees fled across the border, a small group of elders remained in the village to protect their ancestral homes.

### 3. to be left over

verb · CEFR B1

to be left when the other parts are gone or have been used.

For teachers: to be left after a part or quantity has been subtracted, used, or destroyed.

- Very little of the original castle remains today except for one stone tower.
- After the budget cuts were implemented, only enough funding remained to support the most essential community services.

### 4. leftover parts

noun · CEFR B2

the parts of something that are left after the rest has been used or destroyed.

For teachers: the parts or portions of something that are left over after the main part has been removed or destroyed. Usually plural.

- We ate the remains of the Sunday roast for lunch on Monday.
- Archaeologists discovered the remains of a Roman villa beneath the modern shopping centre during the excavation.

### 5. a dead body

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the body of a person who has died.

For teachers: the physical body of a deceased person. Always plural; formal and respectful in register.

- The soldier's remains were returned to his family for a private funeral.
- Forensic experts were called to the site to identify the human remains found by the hikers in the remote forest.

## Examples

- Please remain in your seats until the plane stops.
- Despite the heavy rain and strong winds, the old stone bridge managed to remain standing.
- While many aspects of the local economy have modernized, the traditional fishing methods remain the primary source of income for the coastal villages.

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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.