remain behind

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle behind

Usefulness

Meanings

1

Stay in place when others move on

Why “behind”? Most people or things leave or continue, while one person or thing remains in the old place.

Only the cleaners remained behind.
Only the cleaners stayed after everyone else left.
Two volunteers remained behind after the meeting.
Two volunteers stayed after everyone else left.

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Only the cleaners remained behind. What does it mean?

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