remain motionless

USAGE SUMMARY

"remain motionless" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation in which someone has stopped moving or is staying in one place. For example: The frightened rabbit remained motionless, hoping the fox wouldn't spot it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I did more or less as instructed, expecting to remain motionless.

The New York Times

Besides enduring discomfort, the models have to train themselves to remain motionless.

The New York Times

When feeding they remain motionless until their prey ventures too close and then literally leap off the bottom in pursuit.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most scorpions are sit-and-wait predators that remain motionless until a suitable victim has moved into an ambush zone.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For the sitters it seemed like hours, during which they were expected to remain motionless but, Mrs Cameron urged, natural.

The Economist

If I remain motionless for an extended period and utter only guttural, meaningless sounds, I would like a Guggenheim.

The New Yorker

The city was moving beneath me, around me, yet permitting me, by some intensely engineered magic, to remain motionless.

The New Yorker

Some of the victims are shown to be collapsed on the floor and remain motionless throughout the video and two people are seen to be hanging from windows.

Independent

The off-duty officers must remain motionless, even at the risk of allowing a suspect to escape, and they must obey all orders from the officers in uniform.

The New York Times

In more than 80percentt of those situations, the undercover officer's decision to remain motionless was seen as the key to defusing the confrontation.

The New York Times

"Sometimes a naked-mole rat will suddenly stop, stand on its hind-legs, and remain motionless, its head pressed against the roof of the tunnel.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "remain motionless" to describe a deliberate or required state of stillness, especially in scientific, medical, or instructional contexts. For example, "Patients must remain motionless during the MRI scan."

Common error

While similar, "motionless" implies a temporary lack of movement, whereas "immobile" suggests an inability to move. Avoid using "remain immobile" when you mean "remain motionless", especially when describing a situation where movement is possible but not occurring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remain motionless" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used as a predicate in a sentence. It describes the state of not moving or staying still. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "remain motionless" is a verb phrase indicating a state of stillness. Ludwig AI data shows it is grammatically correct and very commonly used across various contexts. As identified by Ludwig, the phrase frequently appears in news, scientific, and encyclopedic content, where accuracy and precision are paramount. Related phrases include "stay still", "keep still", and "remain still", offering similar meanings with slight variations in formality. When using this phrase, consider the subtle difference between "motionless" and "immobile", ensuring the correct nuance is conveyed. By understanding its usage and context, you can effectively incorporate "remain motionless" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remain still

A direct synonym, emphasizing the continuation of stillness.

be still

A simpler, more direct way to express the same idea, often used as a command.

stay still

Focuses on maintaining a stationary position, with a slightly less formal tone.

keep still

Similar to "stay still", emphasizing the effort to avoid movement.

hold still

Suggests a deliberate act of restraining movement, often used in commands.

stay stationary

Focuses on maintaining a fixed position, often used in more technical contexts.

keep stationary

Like "stay stationary", it highlights maintaining a fixed position, implying ongoing effort.

do not move

A direct imperative emphasizing a complete cessation of movement.

hold steady

Suggests maintaining balance and a lack of significant movement.

freeze

Implies a sudden and complete stop of all movement, often due to fear or surprise.

FAQs

How to use "remain motionless" in a sentence?

Use "remain motionless" to describe a state of stillness. For example, "The deer remained motionless in the forest, hoping to avoid detection".

What can I say instead of "remain motionless"?

You can use alternatives like "stay still", "keep still", or "remain still" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "remain motionless" or "stay motionless"?

Both "remain motionless" and "stay motionless" are correct, but "remain motionless" is slightly more formal and often used in scientific or medical contexts. "Stay motionless" is more commonly used in everyday language.

What's the difference between "remain motionless" and "remain stationary"?

"Remain motionless" emphasizes the absence of movement, while "remain stationary" focuses on maintaining a fixed position in space. You might "remain motionless" even if you're on a moving object, but you can only "remain stationary" if you're not changing location.