1
: a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast
2
stayed; staying; stays
1
: to secure upright with or as if with stays
2
: to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the stays
: to go about : tack
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
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
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
2
obsolete
: self-control, moderation
3
: a residence or sojourn in a place
4
: capacity for endurance
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
stayed; staying; stays
1
: to provide physical or moral support for : sustain
2
: to fix on something as a foundation
Synonyms
Verb (2)
Noun (2)
Noun (3)
Verb (3)
Examples of stay in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
If the whole family is joining your grad trip, book a stay at Wild Dunes Resort on Isle of Palms.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2024
At the end of the half a year at sea, he is allowed a two-to-three-month stay at home with his family.
—Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
As of Thursday, fans can sign up online for information on season tickets, group tickets, suites and hospitality spaces for the A’s stay at Sutter Health Park.
—Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Some packages cost as much as $100,000 per couple, according to the invite, which included a two-night stay at Mar-a-Lago and a dinner with Lake following the event.
—Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Guests can enjoy breakfast and dinner from the Phantom Ranch Canteen with beverages and snacks available from the canteen's side window from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Phantom Ranch guests can also book one- or two-night mule trips during their stay.
Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com.
—The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
Whether a character is in the middle of a short stay or a seemingly eternal one, a hotel makes a great starting point for all kinds of stories.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2024
As southern Corsica is more built up with tourist stays, the northern beaches remain slightly more wild and untouched; among the best beaches in northern Corsica include Ostriconi, Lotu, Saleccia, and Bodri.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2024
Yulia Drozd, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Young children stay inside so they do not get lost in the chaos of the displacement camps.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
In her most recent update, Owens shared that Zeus’ stay at the vet would be extended.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Shopping enthusiasts staying at the hotel will also be pleased to learn of The Arcade, nine opulent stores of luxury situated on the ground floor for your browsing pleasure.
—Stacey Wreathall, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Arizona's adoption of a relatively low top tax rate of 2.5% for individuals might encourage more wealthy people to settle, or at least stay, here, said Tony Tanner, a portfolio manager who tracks Arizona's economy with the Aquila Group of Funds.
—The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
García Mejía hopes to go to Towson University, where she's already been accepted, to stay close to her family and work toward a nursing degree.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Her husband had stayed at home with their two older children, Ahmad, 7, and Yara, 6.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
With the rise of brands big and small struggling to stay afloat and in the black, Adusei’s decision to keep focus on building the Kwame Adusei name internally is a savvy one.
—Indya Brown, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
Smith also was seeking an emergency stay at the U.S. Supreme Court.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
If the whole family is joining your grad trip, book a stay at Wild Dunes Resort on Isle of Palms.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2024
At the end of the half a year at sea, he is allowed a two-to-three-month stay at home with his family.
—Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024
As of Thursday, fans can sign up online for information on season tickets, group tickets, suites and hospitality spaces for the A’s stay at Sutter Health Park.
—Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Some packages cost as much as $100,000 per couple, according to the invite, which included a two-night stay at Mar-a-Lago and a dinner with Lake following the event.
—Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Guests can enjoy breakfast and dinner from the Phantom Ranch Canteen with beverages and snacks available from the canteen's side window from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Phantom Ranch guests can also book one- or two-night mule trips during their stay.
Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com.
—The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
Whether a character is in the middle of a short stay or a seemingly eternal one, a hotel makes a great starting point for all kinds of stories.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2024
As southern Corsica is more built up with tourist stays, the northern beaches remain slightly more wild and untouched; among the best beaches in northern Corsica include Ostriconi, Lotu, Saleccia, and Bodri.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Against the background of general lack of labor force, the unemployment rate in Ukraine stays at the pre-war level though, according to the state employment service.
—Yulia Drozd, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Young children stay inside so they do not get lost in the chaos of the displacement camps.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
In her most recent update, Owens shared that Zeus’ stay at the vet would be extended.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Shopping enthusiasts staying at the hotel will also be pleased to learn of The Arcade, nine opulent stores of luxury situated on the ground floor for your browsing pleasure.
—Stacey Wreathall, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024
Arizona's adoption of a relatively low top tax rate of 2.5% for individuals might encourage more wealthy people to settle, or at least stay, here, said Tony Tanner, a portfolio manager who tracks Arizona's economy with the Aquila Group of Funds.
—The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
García Mejía hopes to go to Towson University, where she's already been accepted, to stay close to her family and work toward a nursing degree.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Her husband had stayed at home with their two older children, Ahmad, 7, and Yara, 6.
—USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
With the rise of brands big and small struggling to stay afloat and in the black, Adusei’s decision to keep focus on building the Kwame Adusei name internally is a savvy one.
—Indya Brown, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near stay
Cite this Entry
“Stay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stay. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stay
1 of 6 noun
: a strong rope or wire used to steady or brace something (as a mast)
stay
2 of 6 verb
: to fasten (as a smokestack) with stays
stay
3 of 6 verb1
: to stop going forward : pause
2
: to continue in a place or condition : remain
stayed at home
3
: to stand firm
4
: to take up residence : lodge
stayed in a hotel
6
: to last out (as a race)
7
: check entry 2 sense 2, halt
stay an execution
stay
4 of 6 noun1
: the action of halting : the state of being stopped
2
: a stopping of a procedure by court or executive order
3
: a residence or visit in a place
stay
5 of 6 noun1
: something that serves as a prop : support
2
: a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment (as a corset) or part (as a shirt collar)
stay
6 of 6 verb
: to provide support for
Etymology
Noun
Old English stæg "a strong rope used to steady or support something"
Verb
Middle English stayen "to stop going forward," from early French ester "to stand, stay," from Latin stare "to stand"
Noun
from early French estaie "a support, prop"; of Germanic origin
Legal Definition
stay
1 of 2 transitive verb
stayed; staying
: to temporarily suspend or prevent by judicial or executive order
may not grant an injunction to stay proceedings in a State court—U.S. Code
U.S. Codestay
2 of 2 noun
: 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.
see also automatic stay compare cease-and-desist order at order sense 3b, mandamus, supersedeas
W. J. Brennan, Jr.Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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