# remaining

/ɹiˈmeɪnɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹɪmˈeɪnɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. left over

adjective · CEFR B1

describing the part of something that is still there after the rest is gone.

For teachers: denoting the portion of a whole that continues to exist or stay in place after other parts have been removed, used, or dealt with.

- The remaining students in the classroom finished their work while the others went to lunch.
- The remaining funds were allocated to the restoration of the library, ensuring that the project could be completed without further fundraising.

Usage: Always placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. the act of staying

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of staying in a place instead of leaving.

For teachers: the state or act of continuing to stay in a particular place or condition.

- His remaining in the city during the storm was a brave but dangerous choice.
- The legal dispute centered on her remaining on the property after the lease had officially expired.

Usage: Often functions as a gerund followed by a prepositional phrase.

Teaching tip: This noun sense is quite formal; in everyday English, people usually say 'staying' or 'stay'.

## Examples

- The remaining students stayed in the classroom to finish their work.
- After the main course was served, the remaining guests arrived and found seats at the back.
- The remaining funds from the grant were reallocated to the library's digital archive project to ensure the preservation of rare manuscripts.

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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.