Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense continues, present participle continuing, past tense, past participle continued
1. verb
If someone or something continuesto do something, they keep doing it and do not stop.
I hope they continue to fight for equal justice after I'm gone. [VERB to-infinitive]
Interest rates continue to fall. [VERB to-infinitive]
They are determined to continue working when they reach retirement age. [VERB verb-ing]
There is no reason why you should not continue with any sport or activity you alreadyenjoy. [VERB + with]
2. verb
If something continues or if you continue it, it does not stop happening.
He insisted that the conflict would continue until conditions were met for a ceasefire. [VERB]
But as the investigation continued, the plot began to thicken. [VERB]
Outside the building people continue their vigil, huddling around bonfires. [VERB noun]
...the continued existence of a species. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: go on, advance, progress, proceed More Synonyms of continue
3. verb
If you continue with something, you start doing it again after a break or interruption.
I went up to my room to continue with my packing. [VERB + with]
She looked up for a moment, then continued drawing. [VERB verb-ing]
Synonyms: resume, return to, take up again, proceed More Synonyms of continue
4. verb
If something continues or if you continue it, it starts again after a break or interruption.
He denies 18 charges. The trial continues today. [VERB]
Once, he did dive for cover but he soon reappeared and continued his activities. [VERB noun]
5. verb
If you continue, you begin speaking again after a pause or interruption.
'You have no right to intimidate this man,' Alison continued. [VERB with quote]
Tony drank some coffee before he continued. [VERB]
Please continue. [VERB]
6. verb
If you continueas something or continue in a particular state, you remain in a particular job or state.
He had hoped to continue as a full-time career officer. [VERB + as]
For ten days I continued in this state. [VERB preposition]
Synonyms: remain, last, stay, rest More Synonyms of continue
7. verb
If you continue in a particular direction, you keep walking or travelling in that direction.
He continued rapidly up the path, not pausing until he neared the house. [VERB preposition/adverb]
8. verb
If a road or path continues somewhere, it goes there after the place you have mentioned.
The main road continues towards Viterbo before turning right to Bolsena. [VERB preposition/adverb]
More Synonyms of continue
continue in British English
(kənˈtɪnjuː)
verbWord forms: -ues, -uing or -ued
1. (when tr, may take an infinitive)
to remain or cause to remain in a particular condition, capacity, or place
2. (when tr, may take an infinitive)
to carry on uninterruptedly (a course of action); persist in (something)
he continued running
3. (when tr, may take an infinitive)
to resume after an interruption
we'll continue after lunch
4.
to draw out or be drawn out; prolong or be prolonged
continue the chord until it meets the tangent
5. (transitive) law, mainly Scottish
to postpone or adjourn (legal proceedings)
Derived forms
continuable (conˈtinuable)
adjective
continuer (conˈtinuer)
noun
continuingly (conˈtinuingly)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Old French continuer, from Latin continuāre to join together, from continuuscontinuous
continue in American English
(kənˈtɪnju)
verb intransitiveWord forms: conˈtinued or conˈtinuing
1.
to remain in existence or effect; last; endure
the war continued for five years
2.
to go on in a specified course of action or condition; persist
to continue to mourn
3.
to go on or extend; stretch
the road continues to the highway
4.
to remain in the same place or position; stay
to continue in office for another year
5.
to go on again after an interruption; resume
verb transitive
6.
to go on with; carry on; keep up; persist in
7.
to carry farther; extend
8.
to go on with (an activity, story, etc.) again after an interruption; resume
9.
to cause to remain; keep; retain
to continue someone in office
10. Law
to postpone or adjourn to a later date
SYNONYMY NOTE: continue implies a going on in a specified course or condition and stresses uninterruptedexistence rather than duration; , last2 stresses duration, either for the specified time, or if unqualified, for a time beyondthat which is usual; , endure implies continued resistance to destructive influences or forces; , abide is applied to that which remains stable and steadfast, esp. in contrast to that whichis changing and transitory; , persist implies continued existence beyond the expected or normal time
OPPOSITES: stop, cease
Derived forms
continuable (conˈtinuable)
adjective
continuer (conˈtinuer)
noun
Word origin
ME continuen < OFr continuer < L continuare, to join, make continuous < continuus, continuous < continere: see contain
Examples of 'continue' in a sentence
continue
Things move on and life continues in other directions.
The Sun (2015)
The right fork continues westward across the prairie.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
Will my insurer continue to cover me?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They have been released without charge as investigations continue.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The key to continuing on a path of positive change in your life is to set goals.
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
Coaching continues until individual action plans have been put in place.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The world is richer and more alarming for its continuing existence.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
To continue down the road to recovery or veer down the road to ruin.
The Sun (2015)
The right elbow has continued to fold and now points downwards.
Lewis, Beverly Winning Golf for Women (1993)
This is largely because of the myths that continue to exist around the condition.
The Sun (2016)
The measures could also ensure that your existing insurer continues to cover you in future.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The school has been closed while an investigation continues.
The Sun (2012)
This continues today in schools and universities and local government.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She expects that there will come a time when her continuing existence will become unbearable.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But the search for the one right organization has continued and continues today.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
The operation was set to continue around the clock and may not finish until tomorrow.
The Sun (2007)
Perhaps the best plots give you the sense that their stories continue beyond the covers of the book.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The visitors' poor form on the road continues.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So I have to continue on this path to stay in the hearts of these people.
The Sun (2009)
Within a few months they had embarked on a serious affair that continued, with interruptions, for more than a decade.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
continue
Scots law terms
In other languages
continue
British English: continue /kənˈtɪnjuː/ VERB
person If you continue to do something, you do not stop doing it.
House prices continue to rise.
American English: continue
Arabic: يَسْتَمِرُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: continuar
Chinese: 继续
Croatian: nastaviti
Czech: pokračovat
Danish: fortsætte
Dutch: voortzetten
European Spanish: continuar proseguir
Finnish: jatkaa
French: continuer
German: fortfahren mit
Greek: συνεχίζω
Italian: continuare
Japanese: 続ける
Korean: (...을) 계속하다
Norwegian: fortsette
Polish: kontynuować
European Portuguese: continuar
Romanian: a continua
Russian: продолжать
Latin American Spanish: continuar
Swedish: fortsätta
Thai: ดำเนินต่อไป
Turkish: devam etmek
Ukrainian: продовжувати
Vietnamese: tiếp tục
British English: continue /kənˈtɪnjuː/ VERB
activity If something continues, it does not stop.
Talks continued last night between the leaders of the two sides.
American English: continue
Arabic: يَسْتَأْنِفُ
Brazilian Portuguese: prosseguir
Chinese: 继续
Croatian: nastaviti
Czech: pokračovat
Danish: fortsætte
Dutch: verdergaan
European Spanish: continuar
Finnish: jatkua
French: continuer
German: andauern
Greek: συνεχίζω
Italian: continuare
Japanese: 続く
Korean: 계속되다
Norwegian: fortsette
Polish: trwać
European Portuguese: prosseguir
Romanian: a continua
Russian: продолжаться
Latin American Spanish: seguir proseguir
Swedish: fortsätta
Thai: เริ่มอีกครั้ง
Turkish: devam ettirmek
Ukrainian: тривати
Vietnamese: tiếp diễn
Chinese translation of 'continue'
continue
(kənˈtɪnjuː)
vi
(= carry on uninterrupted)[situation, event etc]继(繼)续(續) (jìxù)
(after interruption)[event]继(繼)续(續) (jìxù)
[speaker]继(繼)续(續)说(說) (jìxù shuō)
vt
(= carry on uninterrupted) 继(繼)续(續) (jìxù)
(after interruption) 继(繼)续(續) (jìxù)
[speaker]继(繼)续(續)说(說) (jìxù shuō)
⇒ He arrived in Norway, where he continued his campaign.他到达了挪威，继续进行他的运动。 (Tā dàodále Nuówēi, jìxù jìnxíng tā de yùndòng.)
⇒ "OK," she continued after a pause."好"，她停了一下后继续说。 ("Hǎo", tā tíngle yīxià hòu jìxù shuō.)
to continue to do sth or doing sth持续(續)做某事 (chíxù zuò mǒushì)
to continue with sth继(繼)续(續)某事 (jìxù mǒushì)
to continue up/along/through sth继(繼)续(續)上/沿着(著)/走过(過)某处(處) (jìxù shàng/yánzhe/zǒuguò mǒuchù)
"to be continued""未完待续(續)" ("wèi wán dàixù")
"continued on page 10""转(轉)至第10页(頁)" ("zhuǎnzhì dìshí yè")