stay
1 of 6noun (1)
ˈstā 
1
: a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast
2
: guy entry 2
stay
2 of 6verb (1)
stayed; staying; stays
transitive verb
1
: to secure upright with or as if with stays
2
: to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the stays
intransitive verb
: to go about : tack
stay
3 of 6verb (2)
stayed ˈstād also staid ˈstād ; staying
also staid ˈstād ; staying intransitive verb
1
: to stop going forward : pause
2
: to stop doing something : cease
3
: to continue in a place or condition : remain
stayed up all night
went for a short vacation but stayed on for weeks
stay put till I come back
4
: to stand firm
5
: to take up residence : lodge
6
: to keep even in a contest or rivalry
stay with the leaders
7
: to call a poker bet without raising
8
obsolete : to be in waiting or attendance
transitive verb
1
: to wait for : await
2
: to stick or remain with (a race, a trial of endurance, etc.) to the end —usually used in the phrase stay the course
3
: to remain during
stayed the whole time
4
a
: to stop or delay the proceeding or advance of by or as if by interposing an obstacle : halt
b
: to check the course of (something, such as a disease)
c
: allay, pacify
stayed tempers
d
: to quiet the hunger of temporarily
stay
4 of 6noun (2)
1
a
: the action of halting : the state of being stopped
b
: a stopping or suspension of procedure or execution by judicial or executive order
2
obsolete : self-control, moderation
3
: a residence or sojourn in a place
4
: capacity for endurance
stay
5 of 6noun (3)
1
: one that serves as a prop : support
2
: a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (such as a shirt collar)
3
: a corset stiffened with bones —usually used in plural
stay
6 of 6verb (3)
stayed; staying; stays
transitive verb
1
: to provide physical or moral support for : sustain
2
: to fix on something as a foundation
Synonyms
Verb (2)
- abide
- dwell
- hang around
- remain
- stick around
- tarry
Noun (2)
- sojourn
- tarry
- visit
Noun (3)
- brace
- buttress
- mount
- mounting
- prop
- reinforcement
- shore
- spur
- support
- underpinning
Verb (3)
- bear
- bolster
- brace
- buttress
- carry
- prop (up)
- shore (up)
- support
- sustain
- undergird
- underpin
- uphold
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Lori A. May, Chron, 17 Feb. 2023 Edgewood mansion has a rich past; a stay here cements your part in its new history. —ELLE, 17 Feb. 2023 The stay will take place on July 16, 2023, and cost $40. —Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2023 Set on 102 acres along the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Terranea invites you to discover its unique combination of a beautiful, coastal setting with exemplary offerings that provide not only a luxury stay but also an immersive experience. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Feb. 2023 Seeking a stay that captures the wonderfully quirky and inclusive spirit Portland is famous for? —Katie Chang, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Monu, Aryan and Kamal ji took very good care of us during our entire stay. —Town & Country, 13 Feb. 2023 That year, Glossip was more than an hour past his execution time when the governor issued a stay based on the constitutionality of the state’s execution protocols. —Brynn Gingras, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023 To be eligible, reservations must be purchased by Feb. 16 and require a two-night minimum stay. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2023 Andrea Morabito, The Arizona Republic, 20 Feb. 2023 The goal of Sunday night’s game at Vivint Arena was for Tatum to have fun and stay healthy, for Jaylen Brown to return after breaking his cheekbone and get accustomed to playing with a mask. —Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Feb. 2023 Less disposable income means young people may be more inclined to stay at home or explore nearby locations. —Kathleen Benoza, CNN, 19 Feb. 2023 The game would stay inside of a four point margin almost the rest of the way. —Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 19 Feb. 2023 In fact, some of that salary would then be used to put together a package that could entice Jude Bellingham, the captain against Chelsea, to stay at the club. —Manuel Veth, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023 The Aggies beat Missouri on Saturday to stay a game behind Alabama at 12-2. —Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 18 Feb. 2023 For something more luxurious and dramatic, stay within the 60-foot-high, 900-year-old walls of Amberley Castle, as Henry VIII once did, and strike out for the renowned winery at Nyetimber. —Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2023 While more retirees — Katie’s 65 and Thad’s 67 — should move once their kids are launched, many stay tethered like rootbound oaks to homes that no longer serve them. —Marni Jameson, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2023 See More
Noun
Just 35 miles outside the city, this tranquil vacation property offers 11 unique rentals for nightly, weekly and extended stay bookings. —Lori A. May, Chron, 17 Feb. 2023 Edgewood mansion has a rich past; a stay here cements your part in its new history. —ELLE, 17 Feb. 2023 The stay will take place on July 16, 2023, and cost $40. —Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2023 Set on 102 acres along the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Terranea invites you to discover its unique combination of a beautiful, coastal setting with exemplary offerings that provide not only a luxury stay but also an immersive experience. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Feb. 2023 Seeking a stay that captures the wonderfully quirky and inclusive spirit Portland is famous for? —Katie Chang, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Monu, Aryan and Kamal ji took very good care of us during our entire stay. —Town & Country, 13 Feb. 2023 That year, Glossip was more than an hour past his execution time when the governor issued a stay based on the constitutionality of the state’s execution protocols. —Brynn Gingras, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023 To be eligible, reservations must be purchased by Feb. 16 and require a two-night minimum stay. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2023 Verb
Temperatures will stay between 15 and 30 degrees the rest of the week, with snow expected starting Wednesday. —Andrea Morabito, The Arizona Republic, 20 Feb. 2023 The goal of Sunday night’s game at Vivint Arena was for Tatum to have fun and stay healthy, for Jaylen Brown to return after breaking his cheekbone and get accustomed to playing with a mask. —Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Feb. 2023 Less disposable income means young people may be more inclined to stay at home or explore nearby locations. —Kathleen Benoza, CNN, 19 Feb. 2023 The game would stay inside of a four point margin almost the rest of the way. —Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 19 Feb. 2023 In fact, some of that salary would then be used to put together a package that could entice Jude Bellingham, the captain against Chelsea, to stay at the club. —Manuel Veth, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023 The Aggies beat Missouri on Saturday to stay a game behind Alabama at 12-2. —Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 18 Feb. 2023 For something more luxurious and dramatic, stay within the 60-foot-high, 900-year-old walls of Amberley Castle, as Henry VIII once did, and strike out for the renowned winery at Nyetimber. —Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2023 While more retirees — Katie’s 65 and Thad’s 67 — should move once their kids are launched, many stay tethered like rootbound oaks to homes that no longer serve them. —Marni Jameson, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English stæg; akin to Old Norse stag stay
Verb (2)
Middle English, from Anglo-French estei-, estai-, stem of ester to stand, stay, from Latin stare — more at stand
Noun (3)
Middle English, from Middle French estaie, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch stake pole, Middle Low German stak post, stake pole — more at stake
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
1627, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Verb (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (3)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (3)
1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing stay
Kids Definition
stay
1 of 6 noun ˈstā
: a strong rope or wire used to steady or brace something (as a mast)
stay
2 of 6 verb : to fasten (as a smokestack) with stays
stay
3 of 6 verb1
: to stop going forward : pause
2
: to continue in a place or condition : remain
stayed at home
3
: to stand firm
4
: to take up residence : lodge
stayed in a hotel
5
: wait entry 1 sense 1a
6
: to last out (as a race)
7
: check entry 2 sense 2, halt
stay an execution
stay
4 of 6 noun1
: the action of halting : the state of being stopped
2
: a stopping of a procedure by court or executive order
3
: a residence or visit in a place
stay
5 of 6 noun1
: something that serves as a prop : support
2
: a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment (as a corset) or part (as a shirt collar)
stay
6 of 6 verb : to provide support for
Legal Definition
stay
1 of 2 transitive verb stayed; staying
: to temporarily suspend or prevent by judicial or executive order
may not grant an injunction to stay proceedings in a State court—U.S. Code
U.S. Codestay
2 of 2 noun : a temporary suspension or injunction of an action or process by a usually discretionary judicial or executive order
a stay of execution of the judgment
stay of a lower court's judgment pending certiorari—W. J. Brennan, Jr.
see also automatic stay compare cease-and-desist order at order sense 3b, mandamus, supersedeas W. J. Brennan, Jr.stay 1 of 4
verb (1)
1
as in to remain
to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time let's stay inside this pavilion until it stops raining Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- remain
- wait
- hang around
- dwell
- stick around
- tarry
- abide
- linger
- hang on
- await
- hold on
- loiter
- overstay
- dawdle
- outstay
- dally
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- leave
- move
- go
- quit
- pull out
- take off
- exit
- bail out
- bail
- escape
- walk out
- depart
- peel off
- shove (off)
- fly
- push off
- flee
- push on
- pack (up or off)
- cut out
- evacuate
- pike (out or off)
- bug out
- clear off
- skip
- buzz (off)
- book
- run away
- get off
- abscond
- vacate
- decamp
- scram
- vamoose
- clear out
- abandon
- go off
- forsake
- scat
- desert
- get out
2
as in to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill stay the trial until this new evidence has been processed Synonyms & Similar Words
- stop
- stall
- catch
- halt
- check
- still
- arrest
- pull up
- block
- draw up
- fetch up
- hold
- end
- hold up
- hinder
- suspend
- bring up
- impede
- snag
- hold back
- detain
- obstruct
- cut off
- conclude
- terminate
- stem
- dam
- balk
- clog
- blockade
- discontinue
- call
- baffle
- suppress
- bottleneck
- choke off
- turn back
- squash
- staunch
- stunt
- repress
- squelch
- stanch
- rein (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continue
- keep (on)
- persist
- keep up
- move
- proceed
- march
- advance
- progress
- run on
- follow through (with)
- fare
- push
- drive
- carry on
- wend
- stir
- spur
- propel
- actuate
- goad
- budge
- go along
- impel
3
as in to wait
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something we'll stay for a while longer and see if anyone shows up Synonyms & Similar Words
- wait
- remain
- linger
- await
- hold on
- sit tight
- hang around
- bide
- bide one's time
- hold one's breath
- stick around
- stand by
- expect
- cool one's heels
- anticipate
- tarry
- watch (for)
4
as in to visit
to reside as a temporary guest let's stay at a quaint inn rather than at some generic motel Synonyms & Similar Words
- visit
- sojourn
- haunt
- occupy
- tarry
- run in
- drop by
- crash
- come by
- drop in
- come over
- step in
- frequent
- inhabit
- stop (by)
- hang (around or out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- live
- reside
- dwell
- abide
stay
2 of 4verb (2)
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for beams being used to stay the bridge while it is undergoing repairs Synonyms & Similar Words
- sustain
- carry
- support
- bolster
- uphold
- brace
- bear
- underpin
- steady
- buttress
- undergird
- shore (up)
- prop (up)
- truss
- underlie
stay
3 of 4noun (1)
1
as in visit
a temporary residing as another's guest my mother-in-law is coming for a brief stay next week Synonyms & Similar Words
- visit
- sojourn
- tarry
- homestay
- stopover
- field trip
- sleepover
- layover
- stop
2
as in close
the stopping of a process or activity we must work without stay if we are ever to reach our goal of equal rights for everyone Synonyms & Similar Words
- close
- ending
- halt
- end
- cessation
- stop
- finish
- conclusion
- closure
- shutdown
- cease
- arrest
- termination
- check
- expiration
- lapse
- stoppage
- discontinuance
- shutoff
- cutoff
- discontinuation
- offset
- pause
- surcease
- suspension
- closedown
- break
- arrestment
- abeyance
- interruption
- standstill
- phaseout
- moratorium
- layoff
- mop-up
- letup
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continuation
- continuance
- extension
- persistence
- prolongation
stay
4 of 4noun (2)
as in support
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else a free press is one of the principal stays of a democratic society Synonyms & Similar Words
- support
- shore
- mount
- reinforcement
- brace
- prop
- mounting
- spur
- pillar
- foundation
- stand
- underpinning
- column
- bracket
- buttress
- arch
- crutch
- bolster
- pedestal
- cantilever
- post
- stake
- truss
- frame
- peg
- shoring
- bearing
- base
- strut
- stilt
- girder
- pilaster
- stanchion
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of stay are defer, postpone, and suspend. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.
the governor stayed the execution
The words defer and stay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.
deferred buying a car until spring
The meanings of postpone and stay largely overlap; however, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.
the game is postponed until Saturday
The words suspend and stay can be used in similar contexts, but suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.
business will be suspended while repairs are underway