To continue means to keep doing something without stopping, or to start again after a pause. When you continue reading a book, you pick up where you left off and keep going. When a teacher says “please continue,” she wants you to keep talking or working.

The word suggests persistence and forward motion. A runner continues down the trail even when tired. A scientist continues her experiments despite early failures. A story continues across multiple chapters, carrying the plot forward.

You can continue something you started earlier (continuing a conversation from yesterday), or you can continue despite obstacles (continuing to practice piano even when a piece seems too hard). When something continues, it maintains its course or state: rain that continues all afternoon, a tradition that continues for generations, or a road that continues past the city limits.

The opposite of continue is to stop, quit, or give up.