remote
rih-MOHT
/rɪˈmoʊt/
Far away in space or time; distant and isolated from main centers of population.
Focuses on geographic distance and difficulty of access.
The story behind the word. From Latin remotus, the past participle of removere ('to move back or remove'). Something that is remote has literally been moved far back from where people normally gather.
Word relationships
- distant: Distant simply means far off, whereas remote implies being hard to reach or isolated.
- isolated: Isolated emphasizes being cut off from others, while remote highlights geographical distance.
- accessible: Accessible means easy to reach or enter.
- central: Central implies located at the core or middle of activity.
Commonly confused with
- desolate: Remote means far away; desolate means barren and depressing.
Word family
- remoteness (noun): The state of being distant or far away.
- remotely (adverb): From a distance; to a slight degree.
Collocations
- remote area
- remote village
- remote location
- remote possibility
Idioms & expressions
- not even remotely
Example sentences
- "They established a weather station in a remote corner of the mountain range." Travel
Memory hook
Use a TV REMOTE to operate things from FAR AWAY. Remote = removed from reach.
When not to use
Do not confuse with desolate; a place can be remote yet lush and teeming with life.
Fun facts
- The phrase 'remote control' was first used in the late 1800s to describe radio-controlled boats!
Related words
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