as in to fasten
to attach (a rope) to something so that it is secure
The climber belayed the rope.
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Recent Examples of belay
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
So the climbers who found the elk helped rig him up to belay the creature to the base of the wall, officials said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2025
Born as a design concept to give climbers a shoe to wear for quick access to the crag, comfort when belaying and recovery after a climb, the Kragg fills a need.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belay
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
So the climbers who found the elk helped rig him up to belay the creature to the base of the wall, officials said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2025
Born as a design concept to give climbers a shoe to wear for quick access to the crag, comfort when belaying and recovery after a climb, the Kragg fills a need.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belay
Verb
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In total, roughly 700 lashers responsible for securing and fastening cargo on ships walked off the job.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
15 Oct. 2025
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The shoes were fastened by a small crescent-moon charm off to the side, which added a modern, playful touch.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Kreider’s second goal of the game, with 51 seconds left, tied the game, and his two goals were his first since signing with Anaheim after playing 13 seasons with the New York Rangers.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
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Bryton and Jahaira tied the knot in March, and their date of separation is listed as June, three months after the ceremony.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The scouts are getting an in-person look at the opposing players and game plan, and are on the lookout for anything the all-22 cutups can’t pick up, because the pieces of film are clipped closer to the snap itself.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Keep your toenails clipped and short.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Brooke Braswell registered nine kills, two aces and 12 digs, while Emma Chevalier finished with 18 assists, two kills, seven aces and five digs as Lynn Classical (15-2) beat Chelsea 3-0 to clinch at least a share of the Greater Boston League title.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
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Beloved by our editors and managing to clinch a spot on WWD’s Greatest Hair Products of All Time list for 2025, this recent addition to the L’Oréal Professionnel will be an absolute gamechanger in your curly hair upkeep.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If the key is taken to be some primordial tradition, echoing faintly across world literature after tens of millennia, any effort to pin it down looks hopeless.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
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As a result, the Steelers’ defense was able to pin its ears back and attack rookie QB Gabriel, sacking him six times.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As a model named Carl, stuck in a relationship corrupted by microcelebrity and Instagram view counts, Dickinson ticks with exasperation and sarcastic logic, his jaw clenched, his eyes wide and staring.—
Carrie Battan,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
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When the sky darkens, her stomach clenches.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And be prepared to strap into your breezy ripped jeans for the foreseeable.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
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All jawline and tawny hair, strapping, like he’s made of marble?—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Belay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belay. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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