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 figuratively

The 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

As the middle of winter arrives for the enclave’s 2 million residents, such makeshift shelters are struggling to keep the weather at bay while humanitarian groups say aid remains insufficient, with tents ripped apart or blown away, leaving Palestinians exposed. —Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026

The cotton-blend fabric is made for lightweight warmth to keep the cold at bay without heavy layers on chilly days. —Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 9 Jan. 2026

Minneapolis police and deputies with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office are still on the scene for crowd control measures, and metal gates have been set up to keep protesters at bay. —Wcco Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

These multifunctional furniture pieces are interior design staples that stealthily keep clutter at bay. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for at bay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret