belay

1 of 2

verb

be·​lay bi-ˈlā 

bē-

belayed; belaying

transitive verb

1

a

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

b

: to make fast : to fasten down

belaying ammunition on deck

2

nautical : stop, cancel

belay that last order

3

a

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

belay a climber

… belaying each other over the difficult places.

—National Geographic

b

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

intransitive verb

1

: to be made fast

knowing where each rope belays on deck

2

nautical : stop, quit

—used in the imperative

belay there

3

: 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

1

: 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

2

: 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

The ship’s resting place deep underwater helped preserve key features, like bow clamps and belaying pins, by limiting the growth of invasive quagga mussels, as noted in the release. —Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Drinking should happen after you’re done belaying for the day. —Outside Editors, Outside Online, 3 July 2025

Noun

While self-locking carabiners, a harness, and a helmet are needed, other tools commonplace in mountaineering, like ropes and belay devices, are extraneous here. —AFAR Media, 30 Sep. 2025

Petzl Grigri Belay Device The best climbing gear is versatile in function, like the Petzl Grigri belay device. —Mary Beth Skylis, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English beleggen to beset, from Old English belecgan, from be- + lecgan to lay

Noun

noun derivative of belay entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for belay

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

Kids Definition

belay

verb

be·​lay

bi-ˈlā

1

: to make (as a rope) fast by turns around a cleat or pin

2

: cease, stop