Select the antonym of the phrasal verb “to remand”.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: to expedite

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks for the antonym of the verb to remand, which is often used in legal and judicial contexts. Competitive exams frequently test such words because they appear in news reports and legal discussions. Understanding the meaning of to remand and then choosing the opposite action is the key to solving this question correctly.

Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Target word: to remand.
  • Options: to filibuster, to tarry, to expedite, to adjourn.
  • The answer must be a verb that expresses a meaning opposite to that of to remand in its core legal sense.

Concept / Approach:
To remand usually means to send a case or a person back, particularly in law. For example, a higher court may remand a case to a lower court for further action, or a person may be remanded in custody, meaning sent back to jail while waiting for trial. The central idea is delay or sending back, not proceeding quickly. The antonym should therefore convey moving something forward more quickly. The verb expedite means to speed up a process or make something happen faster, which is directly opposite to delay or send back.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of to remand: to send back for further action or custody, often causing delay. Step 2: Examine to expedite. This verb means to make an action or process happen sooner or more quickly. Step 3: Compare the meanings: remand implies delay and sending back, while expedite implies speeding up and moving forward. They are opposite in effect. Step 4: Examine to filibuster. This means to delay a legislative process deliberately by speaking for a long time, which is actually similar in effect to delay, not opposite to remand. Step 5: Examine to tarry. This means to linger or delay, again similar to slowing things down, not expediting them. Step 6: Examine to adjourn. This means to suspend a meeting or session to a later time, which also suggests delay, not acceleration.
Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine a court case. If a judge remands a case, proceedings slow down and the matter is sent back. If, instead, the judge wants to ensure the case finishes quickly, procedures might be expedited. In everyday language, government departments are often requested to expedite applications instead of remanding them or sending them back for minor issues. This contrast confirms that expedite works as a clear antonym for remand in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
  • to filibuster: Means to obstruct or delay legislative action, which is conceptually similar to remand in that it delays progress.
  • to tarry: Means to delay or linger, again reinforcing slowness rather than speeding up.
  • to adjourn: Means to suspend and resume later, which also slows the process instead of accelerating it.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse antonyms and synonyms when the context is legal because several options can sound formal. Another pitfall is choosing a word merely because it looks rare or sophisticated. However, meaning is what matters most. Whenever you see remand in legal news, think of delay and sending back; then look for a word that clearly signals moving forward quickly, which is expedite.

Final Answer:
The antonym of to remand is to expedite.

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