remain - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
remain Word Meanings
- to continue to exist
- to stay in the same place
- to be left after others are removed
remain Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
remain Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/rɪˈmeɪn/
US
/rɪˈmeɪn/
remain Word Etymology
re- = back + main = to stay; Originated from Latin 'remanere' → Old French 'rester' → English. Imagine holding onto a branch while the tree sways, deciding to remain where you are, despite the motion around you.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
Placing my hand on a door, I push it a notch and then slow to a stop. I shift my weight, adjust my grip, and watch the frame settle as if it’s listening. The wind picks up, but the door remains in the same position, steady in spite of the gust. I breathe out, hold my stance, and that small moment starts to teach me to remain.
Real Context
Remain means to continue to exist, to stay in the same place, or to be left after others are removed. In English it often appears with adjectives like calm or intact, and with phrases such as remain in place or remain calm. Its etymology ties back to re- (back) + main (to stay), signaling a staying behind as things around change. Imagine holding onto a branch while the tree sways, deciding to remain where you are, despite the motion around you. This subtle sense of persistence contrasts with stay in some contexts, where movement or change is more explicit.
Usage Reminders
- - Remember remain can be intransitive or take a prepositional phrase like in place or calm
- - Don’t confuse remain with stay in contexts where movement is implied
- - Use remain to describe states that persist despite change
- - After be removed, something that is left is said to remain
- - Treat remain with adjectives: remain calm, remain vigilant
Common Misconceptions
- Remain and stay are not always interchangeable; remain emphasizes a state, not a movement
- Remain is not used with do or did before the base form (e. g., remain to do is wrong)
- Remain does not necessarily imply passive action; it can describe deliberate persistence
- Remains is a noun (the remains) in some contexts, not a verb form
- Wrong collocation: remain with somebody (use stay with) in many contexts
Thinking Differences
For English speakers, remain often signals a state that persists despite change, with a slightly formal tone. Learners may overuse remain in places where stay would be more natural, or mis-handle noun forms like remains.
Learning Tips
- Practice remain with adjectives: remain calm, remain hopeful, remain silent
- Compare remain with stay in the same context to notice subtle differences
- Use remain in formal writing or descriptions of persistence
- Remember remain can describe leftovers: remains of a meal
- Notice remain when something exists despite change: a building remains after renovation
- Create mini-scenarios to decide when to use remain vs stay
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is 'remain' used correctly?
A.The old house will remain standing for many years.
B.Please remain me a message when you're available.
C.I can't wait to remain at home all day.
D.She remains the car keys in the drawer.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'remain'?
A.Leave
B.Vanish
C.Depart
D.Stay
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'remain'?
A.Arrive
B.Disappear
C.Begin
D.Depart
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life situation would someone 'remain'?
A.Going on a vacation
B.Finishing a meal
C.Getting ready for bed
D.Waiting for a friend
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