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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Curry was next placed in a prone position on his stomach and had his hands pinned behind his back by both Wilson and Shane, who fastened handcuffs, according to the court document.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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There had been no time to fasten safety belts.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The least common dates are March 22 and 24, tied with nine instances apiece.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Raynaud finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings, who rallied from a 16-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter before the Hawks staged a 14-2 run to pull away.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kodai Sano clipped the bar before the break, and the pressure eventually told when Ito got the breakthrough.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
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His Land Rover clipped another vehicle and went over.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Royals were able to clinch a postseason berth later that night when the Twins lost to the Baltimore Orioles, giving Kansas City an AL wild-card spot.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
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The Heat, which has needed to qualify for the playoffs through the NBA’s play-in tournament in each of the last three seasons, needs to finish among the East’s top six teams to clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, the flop of the funding deal has given Democrats another chance to pin the partial shutdown on House Republicans.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
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When gas prices are up, the party not in power is likely to pin it on the party in power.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Protect against teeth grinding, clenching and enamel damage with custom dental solutions from ClearClub.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Among many Niger Deltans, there’s a mixture of ignorance, nonchalance, and clenched resignation around the industry’s environmental dangers, which take a back seat as folks get on with the business of everyday survival.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The astronauts will be driven to the launch pad roughly 4 hours and 40 minutes before liftoff, where crews will help strap them into their seats aboard the Orion capsule.—
Tom Costello,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
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Targeting liftoff as early as next Wednesday, the quartet will strap into the spacecraft safe and sound thanks to the five people that are part of the closeout crew.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belay. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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