belay

1 of 2

verb

be·lay bi-ˈlā

bē-

belayed; belaying

Synonyms of belay next

transitive verb

: to secure (a rope or cable) by turns around a cleat (see cleat entry 1 sense 1b), pin, or bitt

: to make fast : to fasten down

belaying ammunition on deck

nautical : stop, cancel

belay that last order

: to secure (a person) at the end of a rope

belay a climber

… belaying each other over the difficult places.—

National Geographic

: to secure (a rope) to a person or object

intransitive verb

: to be made fast

knowing where each rope belays on deck

nautical : stop, quit

—used in the imperative

belay there

: to make a line (see line entry 1 sense 1) fast by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt

belayer

bi-ˈlā-ər

bē-

noun

belay

2 of 2

noun

: the securing of a person or a safety rope to an anchor point (as during mountain climbing)

Belays are more difficult to secure on ice and snow than on rock …—

Kenneth A. Henderson

also : a method of so securing a person or rope

: something (such as a projection of rock) to which a person or rope is anchored

Examples of belay in a Sentence

Verb The climber belayed the rope.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Invented by climbing brand Petzl in 1991, a grigri is an assisted belay device, which helps beginners who are just learning to belay and climb. —

Popular Science, 19 June 2020 This heavier duty paracord can come in handy for suspending heavy items in trees, belaying a person, or hauling something with your truck. —

Tom Price, Popular Mechanics, 30 Aug. 2023 The entire time Antetokounmpo was delivering this answer, his two toddler boys were waiting just on the other side of the door, clad in footy pajamas that relayed the late hour, and laughing with an exuberance that belayed it. —

Journal Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2023 The Blazers rallied from a double-digit deficit in the first half but could not belay a fierce finish in an 88-86 loss to FAU, Thursday, Jan. 5, at FAU Arena in Boca Raton, Florida. —

Evan Dudley, al, 5 Jan. 2023 Don't belay, chalk up those hands (sorry, not sorry). —

Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 29 Nov. 2022 When Tim descended to belay Jason, JJ grabbed him excitedly by the arm. —

Outside Online, 20 Dec. 2018

Noun

The Odin Lifa Pro isn’t your average puffy jacket; Helly Hansen collaborated with Squamish Search and Rescue to create the ultimate warm and weather-protective belay parka. —

Ebony Roberts, Outside Online, 13 Apr. 2023 The site quoted an Idyllwild local who spoke to crews involved in the recovery, and the individual said that one of the climbers was attached to a rope with a belay device, while the other had a belay device but was not attached to the rope. —

Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 30 Sep. 2022 The Raptor comes with removable pick weights and users can add adzes or hammers to the back of the tools for cleaning snow and debris, building a belay station or hammering in pitons or starting ice screws and pro. —

Chris Meehan, Popular Mechanics, 26 Jan. 2023 Visitors are secured to the course with an auto belay safety system. —

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2023 Bottom Line: Need a belay jacket that stays warm in the absolute worst weather? —

Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 18 Oct. 2022 The climber wore, but did not require, the use of a safety belay. —

Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2014 The archetypical belay device is still the best, in my humble opinion. —

Matt Jancer, WIRED, 1 Sep. 2022 People in belay glasses are now routine along the bases of popular walls, like the audience in a 3-D theater. —

Alison Osius, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'belay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.