continue

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /kənˈtɪnju/ UK /kənˈtɪn.juː/ See IPA manual

Freq #1027

Meanings

1

verb
To keep doing something or keep happening without stopping.

I continued to play video games until the early morning.
2

verb
To start again after a pause or interruption.

The meeting continued after a break for lunch.
3

verb
To go on talking after a pause.

"I know it's hard," he continued, "but there is no choice."
4

verb
To stay in a particular place, position, or role.

She continued as the head of department for another year.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to keep doing something or... keepcarry on

2 verb · to start again after a... resume proceed

3 verb · to go on talking after a... go oncarry on

4 verb · to stay in a particular... stay remain

More retain sustain

Opposites

discontinue stop terminate

Word family

Forms continuescontinuethcontinuing

Derived forms continuablecontinual continuallycontinuantcontinuationcontinuativecontinuativelycontinuedlycontinuinglycontinuity continuous continuously

Related forms contain continent continental continual continuity continuous continuum

Etymology

From Middle English continuen, from Old French continuer, from Latin continuāre. Displaced native Middle English thurghwonen, from Old English þurhwunian.

continuen Middle English continuer Old French continuāre Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# continue

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /kənˈtɪnju/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈtɪn.juː/
**Frequency rank:** 1027

## Meanings
1. To keep doing something or keep happening without stopping.
2. To start again after a pause or interruption.
3. To go on talking after a pause.
4. To stay in a particular place, position, or role.

## Examples
- I continued to play video games until the early morning.
- The meeting continued after a break for lunch.
- "I know it's hard," he continued, "but there is no choice."
- She continued as the head of department for another year.

## Synonyms
- keep
- retain
- sustain

## Antonyms
- discontinue
- stop
- terminate

## Derived Forms
- continuable
- continual
- continually
- continuant
- continuation
- continuative
- continuatively
- continuedly
- continuingly
- continuity
- continuous
- continuously

## Related Forms
- contain
- continent
- continental
- continual
- continuity
- continuous
- continuum

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: continuen
- Root: continuer
- Root: continuāre

## Etymology
From Middle English continuen, from Old French continuer, from Latin continuāre. Displaced native Middle English thurghwonen, from Old English þurhwunian.

## AI Etymology
continue is a verb. It is from Middle English continuen, from Old French continuer, from Latin continuāre. Displaced native Middle English thurghwonen, from Old English þurhwunian. Historical forms in the chain include continuen (Middle English), continuer (Old French), and continuāre (Latin). Current senses include to keep doing something or keep happening without stopping, to start again after a pause or interruption, and to go on talking after a pause. Derived forms include continuable, continual, continually, continuant, and continuation. Related words include contain, continent, continental, and continual.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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