Remains

/rɪˈmeɪnz/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonGeneral
3 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To continue to be in a particular state, condition, or place.

/rɪˈmeɪn/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To stay in the same place or condition.

The price of oil remains high.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a party, and everyone else leaves, but you stay! That's what it means to remain—to stick around or be in a particular condition, like how a house remains standing.

👶 For kids: To stay somewhere or to keep being something, like a toy that stays in one piece.

More Examples

2

She remained calm throughout the emergency.

3

The suspect remains at large.

How It's Used

General

"The castle remains a popular tourist attraction."

Literary

"Despite the changes, the core values of the organization remained."

2

The parts of something that are left after the rest is gone or used.

/ˈrɪmeɪnz/

nounneutralBeginner
General

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

The museum displayed the remains of a dinosaur.

💡 Simply: Think of the leftover bits after you've eaten a delicious meal, or what's left of an old building after it crumbles. These are the 'remains' – the parts that are left behind.

👶 For kids: The things that are left after something is used or broken, like the crumbs after you eat a cookie.

More Examples

2

The police recovered the human remains from the scene.

3

The archaeological dig unearthed the remains of a Roman villa.

How It's Used

Archaeology

"Archaeologists are studying the remains of an ancient city."

Funeral

"The family held a service for the remains of their loved one."

Tip:Think of the 'remains' of a campfire after the fire burns out.
3

The corpse of a human being.

/ˈrɪmeɪnz/

nounneutralBeginner
General

Dead body or the corpse of a human.

The funeral service was held for the deceased's remains.

💡 Simply: When we talk about human 'remains', we mean the body of someone who has died. Think of it like the shell that's left behind.

👶 For kids: The body of a person after they have died.

More Examples

2

Police are investigating the recovery of human remains.

3

The remains were identified through DNA testing.

How It's Used

Funeral

"The family will bury the remains of their father next week."

Forensic Science

"The forensic team analyzed the human remains at the crime scene."

Tip:Picture the 'remains' in a coffin.

Idioms & expressions

remain silent

To say nothing; to not speak or provide information.

"The suspect chose to remain silent during questioning."

the remains of the day

The leftovers; the concluding period, usually the evening, of a day.

"After a long day of work, she enjoyed the remains of the day."

From Old French *remanoir* or *remaindre*, ultimately from Latin *remanēre* (to stay behind, remain).

The word 'remains' has been used in English since the 13th century, initially to refer to what is left over.

Memory tip

Think of a house 're-maining' standing after a storm.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to stay behind, remain"

Base: remain
human remainsarchaeological remainsremains silentthe remains of

Common misspellings

reaminsremaines

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written