Standard Lemma guide

continue

noun · verb · 18 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • kən-tĭnʹyo͞o
  • Received-Pronunciation: /kənˈtɪn.juː/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Ireland: /kənˈtɪn.jʉu/
  • /kənˈtɪn juː/ Dublin
  • Canada, General-American: /kənˈtɪn.ju/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -uː
  • CMU ARPABET: K AH0 N T IH1 N Y UW0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An option allowing the player to resume play after game over, when all lives have been lost, while retaining their progress.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To proceed with (doing an activity); to prolong (an activity).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Shall I continue speaking, or will you just interrupt me again?
  • Do you want me to continue to unload these?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: extend, run

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To make last; to prolong.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To retain (someone or something) in a given state, position, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Qualifier: copulative sense obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To resume.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • When will the concert continue?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To adjourn, prorogue, put off.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: law

Examples

  • This meeting has been continued to the thirteenth of July.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To make a continuation bet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

Topics: card-games, poker

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

exist over a prolonged period of time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The bad weather continued for two more weeks

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: be

Narrower terms: carry, extend, prevail, persist, die hard, run, endure, stand

10

verb

Meaning 10

continue talking he continued,

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I know it's hard,
  • but there is no choice
  • carry on--pretend we are not in the room

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go on, carry on, proceed

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: talk, speak

Narrower terms: segue, ramble on, ramble, jog

11

verb

Meaning 11

move ahead; travel onward in time or space

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We proceeded towards Washington
  • She continued in the direction of the hills
  • We are moving ahead in time now

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: proceed, go forward

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: travel, go, move, locomote

Narrower terms: head, trace, roar, limp, wander

12

verb

Meaning 12

allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We cannot continue several servants any longer
  • She retains a lawyer
  • The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
  • Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
  • We kept the work going as long as we could
  • She retained her composure
  • this garment retains its shape even after many washings

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: retain, keep, keep on

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: prolong, sustain, keep up

13

verb

Meaning 13

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • preserve the peace in the family
  • continue the family tradition
  • Carry on the old traditions

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: uphold, carry on, bear on, preserve

Antonyms: discontinue

Broader terms: keep, maintain, hold

Narrower terms: resume, restart, re-start, persevere, persist, hang in, hang on, hold on, perpetuate, prolong, sustain, keep up, mummify

14

verb

Meaning 14

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Keep on working!
  • We continued to work into the night
  • Keep smiling
  • We went on working until well past midnight

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go on, proceed, go along, keep

Antonyms: discontinue

Broader terms: act, move

Narrower terms: hold, run on, keep going, ride

15

verb

Meaning 15

span an interval of distance, space or time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The war extended over five years
  • The period covered the turn of the century
  • My land extends over the hills on the horizon
  • This farm covers some 200 acres
  • The Archipelago continues for another 500 miles

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cover, extend

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: be

Narrower terms: cross, traverse, span, sweep, overlap, spread, overspread, ridge, dot, stud, constellate

16

verb

Meaning 16

continue in a place, position, or situation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser
  • Stay with me, please
  • despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year
  • She continued as deputy mayor for another year

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stay, stay on, remain

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: be

Narrower terms: bide, abide, stay, hold over

17

verb

Meaning 17

continue after an interruption

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The demonstration continued after a break for lunch

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: act, move

18

verb

Meaning 18

do something repeatedly and showing no intention to stop

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We continued our research into the cause of the illness
  • The landlord persists in asking us to move

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: persist in

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: act, move

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

139 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Southern Altai: узадар (uzadar) — transitive: proceed
  • Arabic: تَابَعَ (tābaʕa) — transitive: proceed
  • Arabic: اِسْتَمَرَّ (istamarra) — transitive: proceed
  • Arabic: دَامَ (dāma) — transitive: proceed
  • Assyrian Neo-Aramaic: ܟܵܬܹܪ (kātēr) — transitive: proceed
  • Assyrian Neo-Aramaic: ܥܲܪܩܸܠ (ˁarqil) — transitive: proceed
  • Assyrian Neo-Aramaic: ܚܲܡܣܸܢ (ḥamsin) — transitive: proceed
  • Armenian: շարունակել (šarunakel) — transitive: proceed
  • Azerbaijani: davam etmək — transitive: proceed
  • Basque: jarraitu — transitive: proceed
  • Belarusian: праця́гваць (pracjáhvacʹ) — transitive: proceed
  • Belarusian: працягну́ць (pracjahnúcʹ) — transitive: proceed
  • Belarusian: прадаўжа́ць (pradawžácʹ) — transitive: proceed
  • Belarusian: прадо́ўжыць (pradówžycʹ) — transitive: proceed
  • Bulgarian: продължа́вам (prodǎlžávam) — transitive: proceed
  • Bulgarian: тра́я (trája) — transitive: proceed
  • Catalan: continuar — transitive: proceed
  • Chinese Cantonese: 繼續 /继续 (gai3 zuk6) — transitive: proceed
  • Chinese Mandarin: 繼續 /继续 (jìxù) — transitive: proceed
  • Chinese Mandarin: 持續 /持续 (chíxù) — transitive: proceed
  • Ngazidja Comorian: uɗunga — transitive: proceed
  • Czech: pokračovat — transitive: proceed
  • Danish: fortsætte — transitive: proceed
  • Danish: pågå — transitive: proceed
  • Dutch: verdergaan — transitive: proceed
  • Dutch: voortzetten — transitive: proceed
  • Dutch: doorgaan — transitive: proceed
  • Esperanto: pluigi — transitive: proceed
  • Esperanto: daŭrigi — transitive: proceed
  • Estonian: jätkama — transitive: proceed
  • Estonian: jätkuma — transitive: proceed
  • Finnish: jatkaa — transitive: proceed
  • French: continuer — transitive: proceed
  • Georgian: გაგრძელება (gagrʒeleba) — transitive: proceed
  • Georgian: განგრძობა (gangrʒoba) — transitive: proceed
  • German: fortsetzen — transitive: proceed
  • German: weiterhin etwas tun — transitive: proceed
  • German: etwas weiter tun — transitive: proceed
  • German: weitermachen mit — transitive: proceed
  • Greek: συνεχίζω (synechízo) — transitive: proceed
  • Greek: εξακολουθώ (exakolouthó) — transitive: proceed
  • Ancient Greek: διατελέω (diateléō) — transitive: proceed
  • Hebrew: הִמְשִׁיךְ (himshíkh) — transitive: proceed
  • Hindi: बने रहना (bane rahnā) — transitive: proceed
  • Hindi: करते रहना (karte rahnā) — transitive: proceed
  • Hungarian: folytat — transitive: proceed
  • Ido: durar — transitive: proceed
  • Italian: continuare — transitive: proceed
  • Japanese: 続ける (tsuzukeru) — transitive: proceed
  • Khmer: បន្ត (bɑɑbɑntɑɑ) — transitive: proceed
  • Korean: 계속하다 (gyesokhada) — transitive: proceed
  • Kumyk: узатмакъ (uzatmaq) — transitive: proceed
  • Ladino: siguir — transitive: proceed
  • Latin: continuo — transitive: proceed
  • Latin: pergō — transitive: proceed
  • Latin: persequor — transitive: proceed
  • Latvian: turpināt — transitive: proceed
  • Lithuanian: tęsti — transitive: proceed
  • Macedonian: продолжува (prodolžuva) — transitive: proceed
  • Macedonian: продолжи (prodolži) — transitive: proceed
  • Māori: taimau — transitive: proceed
  • Māori: moroki — transitive: proceed
  • Norman: continnuer — transitive: proceed
  • Norwegian Bokmål: fortsette — transitive: proceed
  • Occitan: contunhar — transitive: proceed
  • Old English: þurhwunian — transitive: proceed
  • Persian: ادامه دادن (edâme dâdan) — transitive: proceed
  • Polish: kontynuować — transitive: proceed
  • Portuguese: continuar — transitive: proceed
  • Portuguese: seguir — transitive: proceed
  • Romanian: continua — transitive: proceed
  • Russian: продолжа́ть (prodolžátʹ) — transitive: proceed
  • Russian: продо́лжить (prodólžitʹ) — transitive: proceed
  • Scottish Gaelic: lean air — transitive: proceed
  • Serbo-Croatian: nastavljati — transitive: proceed
  • Slovak: pokračovať — transitive: proceed
  • Spanish: continuar — transitive: proceed
  • Spanish: seguir — transitive: proceed
  • Spanish: proseguir — transitive: proceed
  • Swahili: endelea — transitive: proceed
  • Swedish: fortsätta — transitive: proceed
  • Swedish: pågå — transitive: proceed
  • Tamil: தொடர் (toṭar) — transitive: proceed
  • Thai: ทําต่อไป — transitive: proceed
  • Turkish: devam etmek — transitive: proceed
  • Turkish: sürmek — transitive: proceed
  • Ukrainian: продо́вжувати (prodóvžuvaty) — transitive: proceed
  • Ukrainian: продо́вжити (prodóvžyty) — transitive: proceed
  • Venetan: seguitare — transitive: proceed
  • Vietnamese: tiếp tục — transitive: proceed
  • Arabic: تَابَعَ (tābaʕa) — intransitive: resume
  • Arabic: اِسْتَمَرَّ (istamarra) — intransitive: resume
  • Arabic: دَامَ (dāma) — intransitive: resume
  • Assyrian Neo-Aramaic: ܟܵܬܹܪ (kātēr) — intransitive: resume
  • Bulgarian: оста́вам (ostávam) — intransitive: resume
  • Bulgarian: запа́звам се (zapázvam se) — intransitive: resume
  • Catalan: continuar — intransitive: resume
  • Chinese Mandarin: 繼續 /继续 (jìxù) — intransitive: resume
  • Chinese Mandarin: 持續 /持续 (chíxù) — intransitive: resume
  • Czech: pokračovat — intransitive: resume
  • Danish: fortsætte — intransitive: resume
  • Dutch: verdergaan — intransitive: resume
  • Dutch: voortzetten — intransitive: resume
  • Dutch: herbeginnen — intransitive: resume
  • Esperanto: kontinui — intransitive: resume
  • Estonian: jätkuma — intransitive: resume
  • Finnish: jatkua — intransitive: resume
  • French: continuer — intransitive: resume
  • Georgian: განახლება (ganaxleba) — intransitive: resume
  • Georgian: გაგრძელება (gagrʒeleba) — intransitive: resume
  • German: weitermachen — intransitive: resume
  • German: fortfahren — intransitive: resume
  • Gothic: 𐌿𐌽𐍃𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (unsweiban) — intransitive: resume
  • Greek: συνεχίζω (synechízo) — intransitive: resume
  • Hebrew: נמשך (nimshákh) — intransitive: resume
  • Hungarian: folytatódik — intransitive: resume
  • Ido: durar — intransitive: resume
  • Italian: continuare — intransitive: resume
  • Japanese: 続く (tsuzuku) — intransitive: resume
  • Korean: 계속하다 (gyesokhada) — intransitive: resume
  • Latin: continuo — intransitive: resume
  • Latin: pergo — intransitive: resume
  • Latvian: turpināties — intransitive: resume
  • Norman: continnuer — intransitive: resume
  • Old English: þurhwunian — intransitive: resume
  • Polish: kontynuować — intransitive: resume
  • Portuguese: continuar — intransitive: resume
  • Russian: продолжа́ться (prodolžátʹsja) — intransitive: resume
  • Russian: продо́лжиться (prodólžitʹsja) — intransitive: resume
  • Scottish Gaelic: mair — intransitive: resume
  • Scottish Gaelic: lean air — intransitive: resume
  • Spanish: continuar — intransitive: resume
  • Spanish: proseguir — intransitive: resume
  • Swahili: endelea — intransitive: resume
  • Swedish: fortsätta — intransitive: resume
  • Tamil: தொடர் (toṭar) — intransitive: resume
  • Turkish: devam etmek — intransitive: resume
  • Turkish: sürdürmek — intransitive: resume
  • Yiddish: ווײַטער (vayter) — intransitive: resume
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