remote

[ ri-moht ]

adjective

, re·mot·er, re·mot·est.

1. far apart; far distant in space; situated at some distance away:

   the remote jungles of Brazil.

   Antonyms: near, close

2. out-of-the-way; secluded:

   a remote village;

   a remote mountaintop.

   Synonyms: solitary, apart, removed, isolated

3. (of an electronic device or technical process) operating or controlled from a distance, as by remote control:

   a remote camera.

4. not direct, primary, or proximate; not directly involved or influential:

   the remote causes of the war.

5. slight or faint; unlikely:

   The committee doesn't have the remotest idea of how to address the basic issue.

   So with two games remaining, we actually have a remote chance of making the play-offs.

   Synonyms: doubtful

6. noting or relating to work, schooling, or other activities that take place away from their usual place, site, or building: Teachers have distance learning lessons prepared in advance for weather emergencies that necessitate remote instruction.

   The company allows remote work for freelancers, but full-time employees are expected to work on site.

   Teachers have distance learning lessons prepared in advance for weather emergencies that necessitate remote instruction.

7. reserved and distant in manner; not warmly cordial; aloof.

   Synonyms: withdrawn, retiring, reticent

8. far off; abstracted; removed:

   principles remote from actions.

9. distant in time:

   remote antiquity.

10. distant in relationship or connection:

    a remote ancestor.

noun

1. Radio and Television. a broadcast, usually live, from a location outside a studio.
2. remote control ( def 2 ).

remote

/ rɪˈməʊt /

adjective

1. located far away; distant
2. far from any centre of population, society, or civilization; out-of-the-way
3. distant in time
4. distantly related or connected

   a remote cousin

5. removed, as from the source or point of action
6. slight or faint (esp in the phrases not the remotest idea, a remote chance )
7. (of a person's manner) aloof or abstracted
8. operated from a distance; remote-controlled

   a remote monitor

Derived Forms

• reˈmoteness, noun
• reˈmotely, adverb

Other Words From

• re·mote·ly adverb
• re·mote·ness noun
• un·re·mote adjective
• un·re·mote·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of remote¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin remōtus, past participle of removēre “to move back”; remove, motion

Word History and Origins

Origin of remote¹

C15: from Latin remōtus far removed, from removēre , from re- + movēre to move

Example Sentences

It was able to demonstrate the technology using a remote controlled scale model.

From BBC

From the time he moved to remote Michigan, he brought the world to him, amassing thousands of books and corresponding with the savants who resonated the most — Garrett Hardin, the ecologist from University of California, Santa Barbara, and Richard Lamm, the environmentalist and three-term governor of Colorado, among them.

From Salon

Coach tickets are more environmentally friendly and, according to some, increase your chances of success, depending on how remote your starting point is.

From BBC

Palestinians, already disillusioned with the US over Joe Biden’s support for Israel during the war in Gaza, say Trump’s pick for ambassador suggests the next president will make the prospect of an eventual two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict even more remote.

From BBC

It was found by a videographer working on a National Geographic ship visiting remote parts of the Pacific to see how it has been affected by climate change.

From BBC

Related Words

• distant
• far-flung
• far-off
• faraway
• inaccessible
• isolated
• lonely
• lonesome
• obscure
• outlying
• private
• secluded
• unknown