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verb

continuare

continue

Proseguire in un'azione o attività senza fermarsi o dopo una pausa.

Definition & meaning

Continuare means to continue, carry on, or keep doing something. It can refer to an action that persists or resumes, or to something that extends in space or time.

  • Continua a studiare. — “Keep studying.”
  • La strada continua fino al mare. — “The road continues as far as the sea.”

Grammar & Word origin

Continuare is a regular -are verb. It can be transitive, taking a direct object, or intransitive:

  • Continua il lavoro. — “Continue the work.”
  • La riunione continua. — “The meeting continues.”

To express “continue doing something,” use continuare a + infinitive.

It comes from Latin continuare, meaning “to make continuous” or “join together.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • proseguire — to continue or proceed; often emphasizes moving forward.
  • seguitare — to carry on; similar in meaning, but less common in some contexts.

Antonyms:

  • interrompere — to interrupt or stop something, possibly temporarily.
  • smettere — to stop doing something, often an activity or habit.
  • terminare — to finish or bring something to an end.

Common phrases & collocations

  • continuare a fare qualcosa — to keep doing something.
  • continuare il lavoro — to continue the work.
  • continuare così — to carry on like this.

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Examples

Dopo la pausa possiamo continuare a lavorare.verb

After the break we can continue working.

Io ho continuato a studiare fino a tardi.verb

I continued studying until late.

Vuoi continuare con il gioco?verb

Do you want to continue with the game?

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