Cool MateDon't move vs Remain
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Don't move
Top 2,000 (common)
Remain
Top 1,000 (very common)B1
Most common: Remain
| Don't move | Remain | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dəʊnt muːv//🇺🇸 //doʊnt muːv// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmeɪn/","/rɪˈmeɪnz/","/rɪˈmeɪnd/","/rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmeɪn/","/rɪˈmeɪnz/","/rɪˈmeɪnd/","/rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Do not change your position. | To stay in the same place or condition. |
| Example | When I entered the room, I shouted, "Don't move!" to catch their attention. | Please remain silent during the presentation. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Collocations | don't move an inch, don't move your feet, don't move closer, don't move at all, don't move forward | remain calm, remain silent, remain in place, remain unchanged, remain focused |
| Antonyms | - | leave, depart, exit |
| Common mistakes | Learners sometimes say 'Don't moving' instead of 'Don't move'., Confused with 'Don't move on' which has a different meaning., Some may use 'Not move' which is incorrect. | Confused with 'stay' - 'remain' feels slightly more formal., Used incorrectly in passive constructions., Misplaced in sentences where a continuous tense is needed. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when you want someone to stay still. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, often used in urgent situations. | Use 'remain' in both written and spoken English. It's suitable for formal contexts, like reports or discussions, but also works in everyday conversation. Avoid using it in casual slang as it sounds too formal. |
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Frequently asked questions: Don't move vs Remain
What's the difference between Don't move and Remain?
Don't move: Do not change your position. Remain: To stay in the same place or condition.
Which is more common: Don't move and Remain?
Remain is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Don't move: When I entered the room, I shouted, "Don't move!" to catch their attention. Remain: Please remain silent during the presentation.
Can I use Don't move and Remain interchangeably?
Not always. Don't move and Remain are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.