remote
rih-MOHT
/rɪˈmoʊt/
Situated far from the main centers of population; distant.
In adventure, it implies a place that is hard to reach and lacks modern amenities.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 're-' (back) and 'movere' (to move). It literally means 'moved back' or 'moved away.'
Word relationships
- isolated: Isolated implies being completely alone or cut off; remote just means far away.
- distant: Distant is a general term for being far off in space or time.
- central: Located in or near the center.
- accessible: Easy to reach or enter.
Commonly confused with
- removed: Removed often implies a separation in quality or nature, while remote is about distance.
Word family
- remoteness (noun): The state of being distant or far away.
- remotely (adverb): From a distance; slightly.
Collocations
- remote area
- remote location
- remote village
- remote possibility
Example sentences
- "The village is so remote that it can only be reached by a four-day trek." Geography.
- "There is only a remote possibility that we will find the lost city." Probability.
Memory hook
Remote: You use a 'remote' control to stay far away from the TV. Removed from everything.
When not to use
Don't use it to describe a person's personality (meaning cold or distant) in a physical travel context.
Fun facts
- Tristan da Cunha is considered the most remote inhabited island in the world, over 1,500 miles from the nearest continent.
Related words
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