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con·tinue (kən tin′yo̵̅o̅)

intransitive verb -·ued, -·u·ing

  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

Etymology: ME continuen < OFr continuer < L continuare, to join, make continuous < continuus, continuous < continere: see contain

transitive verb

  1. to go on with; carry on; keep up; persist in
  2. to carry farther; extend
  3. to go on with (an activity, story, etc.) again after an interruption; resume
  4. to cause to remain; keep; retain to continue someone in office
  5. Law to postpone or adjourn to a later date

continue Related Forms
con·tin′u·able adjective con·tin′u·er noun
continue Synonyms

continue

interj.

keep on, carry on, keep going, keep talking, keep reading; keep it up.

continue Synonyms

continue

v.

  1. To persist

    last, endure, go on, abide, persevere, proceed, maintain, carry on, keep on, run on, push on, live on, keep up, keep at, sustain, uphold, perpetuate, forge ahead, remain, stay, linger, press on, press onward, carry forward, make headway, move ahead, never cease, stretch, extend, drag on, wear on, hold on, hold out, keep going, stick to, stick with, keep the ball rolling*, chip away at*, plug away*, hang in*, hang on*, hang on like grim death*; see also advance 1, endure 1, remain 1.

    Antonyms cease, end*, give up. *

  2. To resume

    begin again, renew, recommence, carry over, return to, proceed, recapitulate, take up again, pick up, begin where one left off, carry on with, be reinstated, be reinstituted, be reestablished, be restored; see also resume.

    Antonyms discontinue, halt*, postpone.

continue implies going on in a specified course or condition and stresses uninterrupted existence rather than duration; last stresses duration, either for the specified time, or if unqualified, for a time beyond that 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 which is changing and transitory; persist implies continued existence beyond the expected or normal time

continue Usage Examples

Object

  • advertisement: Story continues ADVERTISEMENT I especially enjoyed my time spent in the Vila Vita Vital, the complete center for health, beauty and well-being.
  • tradition: We are proud to have continued this local tradition on which Mallaig was originally founded in the late 1800's.
  • trend: Revenue growth over the summer has continued the trend we saw at the beginning of the year.
  • development: Additional outcomes: The module plays a significant role in the continuing development of other skills and competencies which are central to the course.
  • theme: Continuing the theme Phil Dale explained the science being applied to GMO crops.
  • success: Continuing success The pharmaceutical industry is by far the largest industrial investor in research in the UK.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • along: Care is taken to leave a flow of water so the source can continue along its natural path.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • along: Enter the second field and continue along the right hand side to the hide.
  • down: Kirst and Eilidh went up to the road to wave down cars to call the police whilst everyone else continued down river.

Used with why or when

  • What: Article continues What 's the best memory of your football career?
  • where: At first it looked as if Owen Turner would continue where he left off last time when he was quickest on the first test.

Infinitive complement

  • grow: The number of young people with criminal records also continued to grow.
  • rise: Having risen rapidly over recent years, rents may well continue to rise this autumn.
  • expand: ESOL and EFL provision continues to expand particularly through demands from refugees and asylum seekers.
  • develop: Clearly, this provides an unprecedented opportunity to continue to develop its unique approach to policing.
  • operate: The platoon, however, continued to operate at Shelfield, still under the exciting leadership of Hooper, ably assisted by Martin.
  • improve: Speed measuring devices continue to improve through the use of new technology.

Preposition: without

  • interruption: Daily sung Masses and Offices were immediately established when the Cathedral opened in 1903, and have continued without interruption ever since.

Preposition: in

  • force: The provisions listed below have been continued in force by the statutory rules indicated.

Preposition: for

  • mile: Three boats tried to bead it off but it continued for a mile out to sea.
continue Quotes

After three general election victories, leading the only party with clear policies, resolutely carried out, I intend to continue.

—Thatcher, Margaret HildaThatcher, Baroness

I am sure that the immediate abolition of the slave trade is the first, the principal, the most indispensable act of policy, of dutyand of justice the legislature of this country has to take, if it is indeed their wish to secure those important objects† For we continue to this hour a barbarous traffic in slaves, we continue it even yet, in spite of all our great and undeniable pretensions as civilisation.

—Pitt,William known as  theYounger