Definition of stay
1
:a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast
2
:1guy
-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- dotage, dotard otherwise federalism bodega carceral
- ALL
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Read the Latest from M-W
Origin and Etymology of stay
Middle English, from Old English stæg; akin to Old Norse stag stay
First Known Use of stay
1627
Definition of stay
stayed
play
\ˈstād\
also staid
play
\ˈstād\;
staying
intransitive verb
1
:to stop going forward :pause
2
:to stop doing something :cease
3
:to continue in a place or condition :remain
- stayed up all night
- went for a short vacation but stayed on for weeks
- stay put till I come back
4
:to stand firm
5
:to take up residence :lodge
6
:to keep even in a contest or rivalry
- stay with the leaders
7
:to call a poker bet without raising
8
obsolete
:to be in waiting or attendance
transitive verb
1
:to wait for :await
2
:to stick or remain with (a race, a trial of endurance, etc.) to the end
—usually used in the phrase stay the course
3
:to remain during
- stayed the whole time
Origin and Etymology of stay
Middle English, from Anglo-French estei-, estai-, stem of ester to stand, stay, from Latin stare — more at stand
Synonym Discussion of stay
defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.
-
- deferred buying a car until spring
-
- the game is postponed until Saturday
-
- business will be suspended while repairs are under way
-
- the governor stayed the execution
Definition of stay
1 a
:the action of halting :the state of being stopped
b
:a stopping or suspension of procedure or execution by judicial or executive order
3
:a residence or sojourn in a place
4
:capacity for endurance
First Known Use of stay
1536
Definition of stay
1
:one that serves as a prop :support
2
:a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (such as a shirt collar)
3
:a corset stiffened with bones
—usually used in plural
Origin and Etymology of stay
Middle English, from Middle French estaie, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch stake pole, Middle Low German stak post, stake pole — more at stake
Definition of stay
transitive verb
1
:to provide physical or moral support for :sustain
2
:to fix on something as a foundation
First Known Use of stay
1548
STAY Defined for Kids
Definition of stay for Students
stayed;
staying
1
:to remain after others have gone
- She stayed after the party to help.
2
:to continue unchanged
- We stayed friends for many years.
3
:to stop going forward :pause
- He instructed the dog to stay.
4
:to live for a while
- I'm staying with friends.
- We will stay at the shore for the summer.
5
:to put a stop to :halt
- The governor stayed the execution.
Law Dictionary
legal Definition of stay
:a temporary suspension or injunction of an action or process by a usually discretionary judicial or executive order
- a stay of execution of the judgment
- stay of a lower court's judgment pending certiorari
- —W. J. Brennan, Jr.
Learn More about stay
-
See words that rhyme with stay Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stay Spanish Central: Translation of stay Nglish: Translation of stay for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stay for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stay
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up stay? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!