at bay
idiom
: in the position of being unable to move closer while attacking or trying to approach someone
—used with keep or hold
The soldiers kept the attackers at bay.
—often used figurativelyThe doctors have been able to keep her illness at bay for several months.
Examples of at bay in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Our Founding Fathers went out of their way to put into place checks and balances to keep the crooked deals and slimy words at bay.
—
Patrick Wallis, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
And for you as an older, more seasoned professional, the effort to keep failure at bay is what ultimately leads to future success.
—Janet Markoff, Fortune, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for at bay 
Patrick Wallis, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
And for you as an older, more seasoned professional, the effort to keep failure at bay is what ultimately leads to future success.
—Janet Markoff, Fortune, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for at bay
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at bay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near at bay
Cite this Entry
“At bay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20bay. Accessed 2 Jun. 2024.
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