Definition of continue

Short definition: The word continue means to keep doing something without stopping, or to start again after a pause, carrying an action, activity, or situation forward over time.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word continue? The word continue is all about not stopping—whether it’s an action, a habit, a story, a process, or even a feeling. We use it when something keeps going instead of ending, or when we decide to move forward even though things might feel difficult or uncertain. In daily life, continue often appears when talking about persistence, consistency, and the choice to keep trying. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed, real-life way with long examples that sound natural in everyday conversation.

Verb forms: continue, continues, continuing, continued
Related: continuation n., continual adj., continuously adv.
Syllable: con-tin-ue

1. To keep doing something without stopping, even when it becomes tiring or challenging.
   She decided to continue studying late into the night, even though she was already exhausted, because she didn’t want to fall behind in class.
   He told himself to continue running, reminding himself that every small step was getting him closer to his goal.
   They chose to continue working on the project, despite all the unexpected problems that kept appearing.

   Synonyms: keep going, carry on, persist, go on, move forward, press on, stay with it, push ahead, stick with, proceed, maintain effort, keep at it
   Antonyms: stop, quit, give up, abandon, halt, drop out, cease, end, break off, call it off, pause permanently, walk away

2. To start again after a short break, interruption, or pause.
   After the meeting was interrupted by a power outage, the manager asked everyone to continue once the lights came back on.
   She stopped speaking for a moment, then took a deep breath and continued her story calmly.
   When the rain finally stopped, they were happy to continue their journey.

   Synonyms: resume, restart, pick up again, go back to, carry on from, begin again, reopen, return to, take up again, restart smoothly, move on with, proceed again
   Antonyms: interrupt, suspend, pause, delay, postpone, stop completely, abandon midway, cancel, discontinue, halt progress, cut short, bring to an end

3. To remain in the same situation or condition over a period of time.
   The strong winds continued throughout the night, making it difficult for anyone to sleep peacefully.
   His interest in photography has continued for years, even though his hobbies have changed many times.
   The tradition has continued in their family, passing from one generation to the next.

   Synonyms: last, remain, stay, persist, endure, carry on, keep lasting, go on existing, remain steady, stay active, hold on, continue on
   Antonyms: end, finish, stop, fade away, disappear, change suddenly, break off, vanish, die out, conclude, wrap up, come to an end

4. To allow something to go on instead of stopping it.
   The teacher allowed the discussion to continue, because she felt the students were learning from each other.
   He decided to continue the tradition, even though many people thought it was outdated.
   The manager chose to continue the project, believing it still had potential despite early setbacks.

   Synonyms: allow, let go on, permit, keep active, maintain, support continuation, sustain, keep alive, enable, approve continuation, endorse, uphold
   Antonyms: stop, forbid, cancel, shut down, prevent, block, discontinue, end officially, terminate, cut off, put an end to, close

5. (Figurative) To keep believing, hoping, or trying even when the outcome is uncertain.
   She chose to continue believing in her dream, even when others doubted her abilities.
   He learned to continue hoping, even after facing many disappointments in life.
   Sometimes the hardest part is finding the strength to continue when everything feels heavy.

   Synonyms: persevere, keep faith, stay strong, hold on, keep believing, push through, stay committed, remain hopeful, endure emotionally, stay determined, keep trying, remain resilient
   Antonyms: lose hope, give up emotionally, surrender, despair, quit trying, lose faith, break down, stop believing, abandon dreams, feel defeated, lose heart, give in