remote
remote — adjective
- remotepositive
- more remotecomparative
- most remotesuperlative
1. located at a great distance from the speaker or a reference point, often in a wa
located at a great distance from the speaker or a reference point, often in a way that makes reaching it difficult.
Justin could see a remote cabin on the far side of the lake.
The satellite sends images from remote parts of the solar system.
From the hilltop, the village appeared as a remote cluster of lights.
Explorers used binoculars to study remote mountain peaks.
collocation: remote + natural feature
- remote corner
- remote location
- remote place
- remote distance
Grammar Patterns
remote + noun
be + remote
2. describes a place, such as a house or village, that lies far from towns or citie
describes a place, such as a house or village, that lies far from towns or cities and is difficult to reach because few roads or services exist nearby.
Trang grew up in a remote village that had no paved roads.
Firefighters struggled to reach the remote farmhouse during the storm.
collocation: remote farmhouse / remote village
Mateo's family owns a remote cabin in the woods with no electricity.
Volunteers delivered food supplies to remote communities in the highlands.
- remote island
- remote valley
- remote region
- remote wilderness
- isolated
very similar; 'isolated' emphasises being cut off, 'remote' emphasises distance
- secluded
suggests privacy and intentional separation, often positive
- out-of-the-way
more informal and conversational
- central
located near the centre of activity
- accessible
easy to reach or enter
Grammar Patterns
remote + noun (area / village / house)
Usage Note
Frequently used with nouns describing buildings or settlements (cabin, farmhouse, island, valley). Unlike sense 1, this sense always carries an implication of isolation from human society, not just physical distance.
Common Mistakes
3. describes a computer system, network, or device that users can connect to and op
describes a computer system, network, or device that users can connect to and operate from a different physical location through an internet or network link.
The IT team set up remote access so staff could log in from home.
collocation: remote access / remote server
Omar connected to the remote server to update the company website.
Constanza stores her design files on a remote cloud server that her team can access from any country.
Christopher runs software on a remote desktop from his laptop.
- remote access
- remote server
- remote desktop
- remote connection
- local
direct opposite in computing contexts
Grammar Patterns
remote + noun (access / server / desktop / system)
Usage Note
Commonly appears in technology contexts. The opposite is 'local' (local drive vs. remote drive). Frequently used in compound nouns: remote access, remote desktop, remote server.
Common Mistakes
4. describes work or other tasks performed away from their usual place, most often
describes work or other tasks performed away from their usual place, most often through communications technology.
Beatrix attends her classes through remote learning while traveling.
collocation: remote learning / remote work
Jude took a remote job with a Tokyo company while staying at his family home in Brazil.
The surgeon performed a remote operation using robotic arms from another city.
Remote teaching became common when schools closed during the health crisis.
- remote work
- remote learning
- remote surgery
- remote monitoring
Grammar Patterns
remote + noun (work / learning / surgery)
Usage Note
This sense focuses on the activity itself being done at a distance, unlike sense 3 which describes the technology infrastructure. Frequently used with work, learning, surgery, monitoring, and interviewing.
Common Mistakes
5. describes a point in time that is very far from the present, either in the past
describes a point in time that is very far from the present, either in the past or the future, so that it feels disconnected from now.
The fossil came from a remote era long before humans existed.
Historians study the remote past using ancient tools and writings.
collocation: remote past / remote future
Ishaan set up a trust fund to support his grandchildren in the remote future.
Nkechi dreamed of visiting a civilisation from a remote age.
- remote past
- remote future
- remote age
- remote era
Grammar Patterns
remote + noun (past / future / age / era)
Usage Note
Almost always appears with nouns of time (past, future, age, era). Unlike 'distant', which can describe any time span, 'remote' emphasises a feeling of separation from the present.
6. having very little connection or relevance to a particular subject, situation, o
having very little connection or relevance to a particular subject, situation, or person.
Felipe argued that the budget cut was remote from the issue of school quality.
The witness's story seemed remote from what the evidence showed.
Christopher's comment felt remote from the main topic of the meeting.
The novel's setting is remote from anything the author had experienced.
pattern: remote from + noun phrase
- remote from reality
- remote from the truth
- remote from the issue
- unrelated
more direct and common; 'remote' suggests a larger gap
- unconnected
neutral; no link exists
- irrelevant
stronger judgment; not worth considering
- closely related
directly connected
- relevant
directly applicable
Grammar Patterns
be + remote + from + noun phrase
Usage Note
Typically used predicatively with 'remote from'. The subject can be an idea, statement, event, or person. Frequently takes a negative or critical tone, implying a gap between expectation and reality.
Common Mistakes
7. describes a chance, possibility, or risk that is extremely small and unlikely to
describes a chance, possibility, or risk that is extremely small and unlikely to happen.
There is a remote chance that the lost package will be found.
The doctor said the risk of side effects is remote but not zero.
collocation: remote chance / remote risk / remote possibility
Mira admitted that her hope of winning was remote after the injury.
With three backup generators on standby, the risk of a power outage is extremely remote.
intensifier: extremely remote
- remote chance
- remote possibility
- remote risk
- remote prospect
Grammar Patterns
remote + noun (chance / possibility / risk)
Usage Note
Only used with abstract nouns expressing likelihood — not with concrete objects. 'A remote chance' is much more common than 'a remote possibility' in everyday speech. Can be intensified with 'extremely' or 'very'.
Common Mistakes
8. describes a person whose behaviour is cool, distant, and shows little warmth or
describes a person whose behaviour is cool, distant, and shows little warmth or interest in others.
The new manager seemed remote and rarely spoke to the team.
Diya found her neighbour remote and unfriendly during their first meeting.
Anthony became more remote after his friend moved to another country.
Élise's remote expression made it hard to tell what she was thinking.
collocation: remote manner / remote expression
- remote manner
- remote expression
- remote attitude
- remote personality
- aloof
very close in meaning; 'aloof' slightly more formal and judgmental
- distant
common alternative; slightly less strong
- detached
suggests emotional separation, not necessarily unfriendliness
- standoffish
informal, with a negative tone
- warm
showing friendly affection
- friendly
open and approachable
- approachable
easy to talk to
Grammar Patterns
be + remote
remote + noun (manner / expression / person)
Usage Note
Often paired with words describing personal qualities: manner, expression, air, attitude. Unlike 'shy', which suggests nervousness, 'remote' suggests deliberate emotional distance or lack of interest. Can be used as a character criticism.
Common Mistakes
remote — noun
- remotesingular
- remotesplural
1. a small hand-held device that sends wireless signals to operate a television, st
a small hand-held device that sends wireless signals to operate a television, stereo, or other electronic equipment from a distance.
Christopher picked up the remote and turned on the television.
Diya handed me the remote so I could change the channel.
The remote fell behind the sofa and its batteries came loose.
Sayaka pointed the remote at the stereo and pressed play.
common short form of 'remote control'
Mateo searched everywhere for the remote before finding it under a cushion.
- point the remote
- press the remote
- lose the remote
- remote batteries
- remote control
the full form; slightly more formal
- clicker
very informal, used in some regions
- handset
also used for telephones; less common for TV remotes
Grammar Patterns
the remote
a remote
Common Mistakes
Word family
- remotelyadverbB2
- remotenessnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words describe something far away, but they differ in emphasis. 'Distant' is the most neutral and general — it simply states that a large gap exists ('a distant star', 'distant memories'). 'Far-off' is more informal and literary, often used in storytelling to create a sense of wonder ('a far-off land'). 'Outlying' is the most specific; it refers to areas on the edge of a region, such as the outlying suburbs of a city. 'Remote' goes beyond distance to suggest difficulty of access or isolation — a remote mountain peak is not just far away but hard to reach. For example, a 'distant village' might be visible across a valley, while a 'remote village' is hidden behind difficult terrain.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'remote' comes from Latin 'remotus', the past participle of 'removere' meaning 'to move back' or 'to remove'. 'Removere' itself is formed from 're-' (back, away) and 'movere' (to move). It entered English through Old French 'remote' in the 15th century, originally referring to places far away in space. By the 16th century it had also developed the senses of 'far in time' and 'distant in relationship'. The meaning of 'aloof' (sense 8) appeared in the 17th century. The noun form meaning 'remote control' is a 20th-century shortening.