to remain to be seen
58
5.3
- idiom
:
quedar por ver
- It remains to be seen how effective the new marketing strategy will be.
- still remains to be seen
- remains to be seen, however
- remains to be seen with what result
You know, at least that remains to be seen.
- You know, at least that remains to be seen.
- And whether that's true or not remains to be seen.
- Whether they would be able to succeed or not remains to be seen.
- But whether it's going to happen this week remains to be seen.
- We're right in high season for the budget process right now, so it remains to be seen where that will land.
- So we'll see what happens with that, but that remains to be seen.
- It's possible, but I think that remains to be seen.
- Whether I shall go as he did remains to be seen, for I have learned much now.
- And whether we're going to see our way through it to a better more, you know, habitable space for all of us remains to be seen.
- And to answer your question, whether I become the king or the king maker in political terms remains to be seen.
- Whether that'll work out remains to be seen, but the small reactor boom has greatly increased demand for a special type of fuel called Halo.
- The extent to which these more restrictive lending practices prevent existing borrowers from refinancing commercial real estate loans still remains to be seen.
- Now, how it works out technologically, that remains to be seen because thus far games as a an online service streamed have had a rough start.
- I built a computer now all that remains to be seen is if she feels like it was worth the additional stress compared to having someone else build it for her.
- I mean, I work under pressure, so it's or that remains to be seen, but usually I do.
- How useful that'll be will remains to be seen.
- So I understand why the pivot, but I, I, it, it remains to be seen.
- And it it it remains to be seen, you know, which, which methods was, you know, better.
Examples
-
Whether this prediction will come to pass remains to be seen.
Academic text (2012) -
Whether it will meet the charges of critics remains to be seen.
Academic text (1994) -
We're right in high season for the budget process right now, so it remains to be seen where that will land.
-
Well, that remains to be seen, but that is exactly my point.
-
Whether or not this year's election will produce more interest remains to be seen.
Academic text (2012) -
However, whether foreign intervention will determine the outcome of the elections also remains to be seen.
Academic text (1992) -
Two other growth areas have been discussed, and it remains to be seen if they will materialize.
Academic text (1995) -
There may be a reduction in air pollution in busy locations, but its significance remains to be seen.
Academic text (2008) -
Whether that will translate into more political democratization, however, remains to be seen.
Academic text (1992) -
Whether environmentalists can capitalize on such issues to force further reform remains to be seen.
Academic text (1991)
Synonyms
366
3.5
You cannot be sure what will happen
9
3.3
What happens becomes clear later
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'its outcome is still unknown' is directly derivable from 'remain' (to stay) combined with the passive infinitive 'to be seen' (literally 'to be observed', figuratively 'to become known'). The figurative use of 'see' = 'know' is a common, cross-linguistic pattern (e.g. Spanish 'queda por ver', French 'reste à voir'), so a B1 learner who knows the parts should infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Remain to be seen comes from the simple image of something still left to look at: the words remain and seen suggest parts of a story or show are not yet visible, like scenes still behind a curtain. So, it means 'the outcome is still unknown'.