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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The glossy upper covered the sides and opened at the back, where a slim patent strap fastened with small gold-toned buckle hardware.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
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Davis’s solution was to fasten the pockets and other stress points with copper rivets for reinforcement.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Cleveland rallied and tied it at 50-all on a jumper by Harden before the Knicks countered with a 10-1 run.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
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The Aces battled back and tied it at 90 on a jumper in the lane by Chelsea Gray and again at 94 on two free throws by A’ja Wilson.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Hull went closest on the stroke of halftime when McBurnie’s header flicked off a Middlesbrough defender and clipped the top of the crossbar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 May 2026
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With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, the shortstop clipped Schlittler’s high-velocity fastballs over and over until the big righty finally missed low to push across the first run on a walk.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Norris clinched his maiden crown at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, with Piastri ending the year third in the standings, just 13 points behind his teammate.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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The kick curved and popped the back corner of the net, and Kocher ran away with arms outstretched and mouth agape, in slight disbelief of a goal that clinched a 2-1 win — and the third straight girls’ 3A state title for Colorado Academy.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 May 2026
Verb
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One brainbuster later, Alexander tried to pin Slater, but couldn’t get him down.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Geomorphologist Dan Shugar and his team used NASA-USGS Landsat satellites to pin the disaster on the rapid retreat of the South Sawyer Glacier.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The Beloved, his first film in Competition at Cannes, is an incredible achievement that builds on all those films and leaves them standing in the dust, hitting all the same tense throat-clenching beats but somehow transcending genre altogether.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 May 2026
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Tuanzebe—born in Bunia, raised in Rochdale—is sprinting toward the corner flag, fists clenched at his waist, triumphant.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
Verb
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In the upcoming fifth and sixth seasons of Rubble & Crew, fans will strap on safety gear and get ready for demolition, as Builder Cove’s construction heroes become the Wrecking Crew, moving from construction to destruction.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
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One of the greatest Niners to ever strap on a gold helmet.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belay. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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