continue
verb (transitive)
UK/kənˈtɪn.juː/US/kənˈtɪn.juː/
To persist in an activity or process; to carry on or maintain without interruption.
Example Sentences
Despite the obstacles, she decided to continue her studies to achieve her goals.
They will continue working on the project until it is completed.
He chose to continue his career in the same company despite the offer from a competitor.
The rain did not stop them; they continued their hike through the mountains.
To continue improving your skills, you should practice regularly and seek feedback.
After a brief pause, the concert continued with an encore performance that delighted the audience.
The team continued their winning streak, securing another victory in the championship game.
Even though the initial phase was challenging, they continued the development of the new software, ultimately creating a successful product that revolutionized the industry.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
To keep going, resume, or persist in doing something over time.As a verb, “continue” denotes that an action, process, or situation persists without stopping, or starts again after a pause. You might say, “We will continue our discussion tomorrow,” which implies pausing now and resuming later. Or, “She continued working on her project throughout the night,” highlighting uninterrupted effort. It’s often paired with clarifying words to indicate context—“continue doing X,” “continue to do X,” “continue with X.” In writing or conversation, specifying what exactly is being continued helps listeners or readers track the progression: a conversation, a journey, or any ongoing work. In more formal or academic contexts, “continue” can link sections or arguments—“Let’s continue examining the data in the next chapter”—signaling forward momentum. Whether describing forward progress or picking up after a break, “continue” underscores an ongoing trajectory that moves steadily ahead, building on what came before.
Alternatives
If you want to avoid overusing “continue,” consider synonyms like “proceed,” “carry on,” or “keep going,” all of which express ongoing action. For more nuanced alternatives, “resume” fits a situation where something stopped and is starting again, while “persevere” and “persist” emphasize determination in the face of challenges. “Maintain” highlights keeping the current state or direction intact, while “sustain” suggests providing necessary support to keep something going. Each choice leans toward a slightly different connotation—persistence, steady progression, or simple follow-through—so selecting the right word helps convey whether you’re emphasizing stamina, methodical progression, or routine continuation.
Writing
In written work, “continue” provides a clear way to mark that something doesn’t halt or picks up where it left off. In narratives, you might describe how a character continues a journey or endeavor, indicating a seamless transition between scenes. In academic or technical documents, phrases like “we continue this line of inquiry” can guide the reader through a logical sequence of points or data analyses. Use synonyms or rephrase to avoid monotony, especially if your text involves repeated steps or extended timelines—“proceed to the next phase,” “carry on with the experiment,” etc. When you need to underscore a sustained effort, you might pair it with descriptors about pace or duration—“continue steadily,” “continue sporadically,” “continue for several months.” Anchoring the verb in specifics—who or what is continuing and why—heightens clarity, showing readers how you or your characters maintain momentum or consistency over time.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “continue” is a go-to term for saying that you’ll keep doing something. Friends might hear statements like, “I’ll continue studying until I fully understand the material,” or “Shall we continue our chat after dinner?” If a movie or show resumes after a pause, someone might say, “Okay, let's continue watching.” It’s straightforward, but you can also switch to “keep going” or “carry on” in informal settings for a more relaxed vibe: “Let’s keep going with the story.” If you’re encouraging someone, “Just continue what you’re doing, you’re doing great,” offers reassurance that they should persist. In casual contexts, “continue” easily signals an ongoing effort or conversation, reminding everyone that the action or dialogue is still in progress.
Etymology
Rooted in the Latin “continuare,” meaning “to join together” or “to make continuous,” the term “continue” entered Middle English through Old French. Early usage framed it as an action of extending something in time or space without interruption—keeping things connected or going on without a break. Over centuries, it evolved to denote not only unbroken progress but also resuming activity after a pause. Despite shifting contexts—whether describing personal endeavors, everyday tasks, or formal processes—“continue” retains that core sense of bridging one moment or state to the next. This lineage underscores its consistent role in conveying ongoing efforts, connecting the present with both the past and the future in a smooth, uninterrupted thread.
