remain

verb re·main \ ri-ˈmān \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Examples: remain in a Sentence

Definition of remain

remained; remaining; remains

intransitive verb

1 a : to be a part not destroyed, taken, or used up

only a few ruins remain

b : to be something yet to be shown, done, or treated

it remains to be seen

2 : to stay in the same place or with the same person or group; especially : to stay behind

3 : to continue unchanged

the fact remains that we can't go

See remain defined for English-language learners

See remain defined for kids

Examples of remain in a Sentence

Little remained after the fire.
Only two minutes still remain in the game.
The question remains: who fired the shot?
She remained in Boston after she finished college.
The soldiers were ordered to remain at their posts.
I remained behind after the class had ended.
He remained with the team.

Recent Examples of remain from the Web

Insterstate 41 near Kewaskum is shut down from a major crash and is expected to remain closed for another three to four hours, the Washington County Sheriff's Department says.

— rick barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Major crash shuts down Interstate 41 near Kewaskum," 14 July 2018
Northern Ireland's peace deal largely ended three decades of violence between Irish nationalists who wanted the region to join the Republic of Ireland and pro-British unionists who wanted it to remain British.

— NBC News, "Explosive thrown at house of former Irish nationalist leader Gerry Adams," 14 July 2018
Callers may remain anonymous and may receive compensation for their information.

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Police searching for teen missing since July 4," 13 July 2018
But Graham contends that Cordon and her children were allowed to remain there.

— dom calicchio, Fox News, "In 911 call, woman claims home invasion may have 'something to do' with NFL player LeSean McCoy," 13 July 2018
This suggestion, of course, only spurs him to remain.

— peter rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti' chronicles Gauguin’s desire to see a new way," 13 July 2018
Please continue to respect my privacy, and my desire to remain anonymous.

— taylor lorenz, The Atlantic, "Unidentified Plane Bae Woman's Statement Confirms the Worst," 13 July 2018
President Kiir, whose term of office was supposed to end this year, may have hindered prospects for peace negotiations with Mr. Machar when the country’s Parliament voted this week to allow the president to remain in power until 2021.

— New York Times, "U.N. Imposes Arms Embargo on South Sudan as Atrocities Go Unabated," 13 July 2018
Washed up is a bit harsh—both players remain among the world’s best, and both will likely be on this year’s Ryder Cup team—but the point is well-taken.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "FORE Questions: Breaking Down the New PGA Tour Schedule," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'remain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of remain

Middle English, from Anglo-French remaindre, from Latin remanēre, from re- + manēre to remain — more at mansion

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

remain Synonyms

remain

noun

Definition of remain

1 obsolete : stay

2 : a remaining part or trace —usually used in plural

3 remains plural : a dead body

Recent Examples of remain from the Web

The remains were found to the rear of residential property in the 2000 block of Purcell Lane, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Marianne Kelley said.

— steve burns, ajc, "GBI: It could take weeks to ID remains found in Cherokee County," 9 July 2018
The goal is that when remains of soldiers are found abroad – searches which the Army is actively conducting – they can be returned to families for burial and a sense of closure.

— courtney tanner, The Christian Science Monitor, "BYU students track down families of MIA soldiers," 29 June 2018
Although executions in Iran have fallen in recent years, the number still carried out remains among the world’s highest.

— nick cumming-bruce, New York Times, "Blacklisted Iranian Official Stirs Outrage at U.N. Human Rights Council," 27 Feb. 2018
No remains have been returned, even as the president says 200 have.

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Did Trump Just Help Stop Brexit?," 13 July 2018
The United States military has already moved coffins and American flags to Panmunjom in anticipation of receiving the remains.

— New York Times, "North Koreans Are No-Shows at Meeting to Discuss U.S. Soldiers’ Remains," 12 July 2018
This means that, in fields levelled by ploughing, crops growing over archaeological remains have access to more water and better nutrients.

— The Economist, "Dry weather is helping archaeologists discover ancient sites," 12 July 2018
The transfer of remains between North Korea and the United States has not taken place since 2005.

— adam taylor, Washington Post, "North Korean officials no-show for meeting about U.S. troop remains," 12 July 2018
The most recent transfer of remains between North Korea and the United States occurred in 2005.

— adam taylor, latimes.com, "North Korean officials are apparent no-shows for meeting on returning U.S. troops' remains," 12 July 2018

First Known Use of remain

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

REMAIN Defined for English Language Learners

remain

verb

Definition of remain for English Language Learners

: to be left when the other parts are gone or have been used
: to be something that still needs to be done, dealt with, etc.
: to stay in the same place or with the same person or group : to stay after others have gone