remain
gb/ɹɪmˈeɪn/ us/ɹɪmˈeɪn/
A2
English
~ 400
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
state
1
continue to exist or stay
To still be in a place or in the same condition.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] remain(s) [somewhere/in a state]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'remain' with 'stay' in informal speech, but 'remain' is more formal and often used for states or conditions, not just physical presence.
Synonyms
stay (More informal and commonly used for physical location or state.)
|
persist (More formal; often used for continuing conditions or problems.)
Antonyms
leave (Opposite in the sense of departing from a place.)
|
disappear (Opposite in the sense of no longer existing or being present.)
Collocations
remain calm
|remain silent
|remain unchanged
|remain seated
|remain open
Themes
daily life
|time
|existence
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Only a few seats remain after the tickets went on sale.
- Despite the changes, the core values remain the same.
- He chose to remain in the city during the summer.
Learner examples
- I will remain here until you come back.
- The door will remain open until 6 p.m.
- She will remain calm during the test.
Verb
A2
state
2
be left after removal or use
To be what is left after other things are gone or used.
Usage pattern:
[something] remain(s) after [something]
Synonyms
be left (A simpler, more general way to express that something is still there.)
Antonyms
vanish (To disappear completely so nothing is left.)
Collocations
only remains
|remains after
|little remains
Themes
quantity
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Only two cookies remain after the party.
- Little remains of the old building.
- After expenses, very little money remained.
Learner examples
- Only one chair remains in the room.
- Two apples remain in the basket.
- Little food remains after lunch.
Verb
A2
state
3
stay in same state or condition
To stay the same way without change.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] remain(s) [adjective/state]
Synonyms
stay (Common and informal; interchangeable in many contexts but less formal.)
Antonyms
become (Indicates change into a different state.)
Collocations
remain calm
|remain silent
|remain unchanged
Themes
states
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She remained calm despite the bad news.
- The law remains unchanged since 1990.
- He remained silent during the meeting.
Learner examples
- I will remain happy no matter what.
- The rules remain the same every year.
- He remains quiet when he is tired.
Noun
B1
entity
4
parts left over
The pieces that are left after most of something is gone.
Synonyms
leftovers (Usually refers to uneaten food; more informal.)
|
remnants (More formal; can refer to physical or abstract things left over.)
Antonyms
whole (The complete thing before anything is removed.)
Collocations
human remains
|the remains of a meal
|ancient remains
Themes
objects
|quantity
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The police found human remains in the forest.
- We threw away the remains of the sandwich.
- Tourists visited the ancient remains of the temple.
Learner examples
- They found human remains in the cave.
- I put the remains of my lunch in the trash.
- We saw the remains of an old house.
Grammar
Dictionary form
remain
IPA
GB/ɹɪmˈeɪn/
US/ɹɪmˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
re - main (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (main)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: remain
- 3rd Person Singular: remains
- Present Participle: remaining
- Past: remained
Word family
Expressions
as remains
1/ˈæz ɹɪmˈeɪnz/
fixed phrase
continues as before
Still the same as before without change.
Examples
- The law as remains today is outdated.
- Her opinion as remains unchanged over the years.
remain to be seen
1/ɹɪmˈeɪn tə bˈi sˈin/
fixed phrase
uncertain future outcome
We do not know yet what will happen or be true.
Examples
- It remains to be seen whether the plan will work.
- Whether he will accept the offer remains to be seen.