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
The lights work to keep ducks and geese — top carriers of bird flu — at bay.
—
Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025
The best-selling seat’s backrest is designed for lumbar support to keep back pain at bay.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
The four-country strategic alignment seeks to keep China at bay as the East Asian power extends its influence.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
That storied nosedive — or, at the least, the wisdom behind it — has kept the two-part doldrums at bay and out of box offices for most of the last decade.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at bay
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025
The best-selling seat’s backrest is designed for lumbar support to keep back pain at bay.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
The four-country strategic alignment seeks to keep China at bay as the East Asian power extends its influence.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
That storied nosedive — or, at the least, the wisdom behind it — has kept the two-part doldrums at bay and out of box offices for most of the last decade.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at bay
Cite this Entry
“At bay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20bay. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share