stay 1 of 4

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as in to wait
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something we'll stay for a while longer and see if anyone shows up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to visit
to reside as a temporary guest let's stay at a quaint inn rather than at some generic motel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stay

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verb (2)

as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for beams being used to stay the bridge while it is undergoing repairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

stay

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noun (1)

stay

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noun (2)

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of stay are defer, postpone, and suspend. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

When might defer be a better fit than stay?

The words defer and stay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

When would postpone be a good substitute for stay?

The meanings of postpone and stay largely overlap; however, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

Where would suspend be a reasonable alternative to stay?

The words suspend and stay can be used in similar contexts, but suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stay
Verb
Home climate control often comes with trade-offs: a second-floor bedroom that stays five degrees warmer than the rest of the house, rising electricity costs during peak summer months, or the high cost of installing central air conditioning. Jon Stojan, USA Today, 10 May 2025 Shevchenko stayed at 135 for her next four fights, going 2-2. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Noun
In addition to its 13 guest rooms, The Hedges Inn has a three-bedroom private residence for extended stays. Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2025 This mission is targeting a 14-day stay, and will fly up with one of the SpaceX Crew Dragons. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for stay

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Cite this Entry

“Stay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stay. Accessed 31 May. 2025.

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