as in to fasten
to attach (a rope) to something so that it is secure
The climber belayed the rope.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of belay
Shop Black Diamond Crack Gloves Arc’teryx Alpha Parka $700 ($1,000)
Dress warmer, belay longer (without shivering).
—
The Editors, Outside Online, 1 Dec. 2024
Mountain Seed cofounder Nathan Schmidt belays a camper.
—Kyra Kennedy, Outside Online, 29 Sep. 2024
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
Like rock climbing, the sport entails a rope system — known as belaying — but differs in substantive ways.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belay
The Editors, Outside Online, 1 Dec. 2024
Mountain Seed cofounder Nathan Schmidt belays a camper.
—Kyra Kennedy, Outside Online, 29 Sep. 2024
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
Like rock climbing, the sport entails a rope system — known as belaying — but differs in substantive ways.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belay
Verb
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Horton and an assistant fasten a saddle and harness ropes across the bull’s broad belly.—
Jon-Michael Banks,
Kansas City Star,
31 July 2025
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Archaeologists also uncovered pieces of clothing in the graves with amber and glass beads and iron fibulae used to fasten garments.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Those declines were tied to a drop in sales of Weyco's Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, Florsheim and BOGS brands to retailers.—
Sofia Joseph,
jsonline.com,
9 Aug. 2025
-
State lawmaker's per-diem reimbursements are tied to federal rates.—
Brittany Carloni,
IndyStar,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Some of them clip on to an existing vent or use a suction cup mount to stay in place.—
Keenan Thompson,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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The dog wears a special harness that allows unfettered movement, which is clipped to a bungee line attached to the human’s running waist belt.—
Ula Chrobak,
Outside,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Despite not releasing any new music in the past year, pop superstar Taylor Swift has clinched a nomination for MTV's Video Music Awards.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
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Drivers on the points bubble will be extra hungry for a win to clinch their playoff spot, and hoping that another new winner doesn’t emerge from the field to push the cut line down.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The video from an officer’s dashboard camera appears to show, as she is arrested, the two officers turn her on her stomach as one pins her down to handcuff her hands behind her back.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
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Then the billy bedded down, pinning us behind a lone spruce tree for over an hour.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Our heroes clench their squared jaws with determination while the villains chew the scenery.—
Scott Phillips,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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The fists were loosely clenched, but the fingers moved.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Corrections officers strap the black-and-blue mask with a plexiglass face shield to the bound inmate, Hood said, removing his glasses and instructing another person present strap the mask tightly to his face, before breathing deeply.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Aug. 2025
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Then two people showed up with what looked like bombs strapped to their torsos.—
Jesse Kirsch,
NBC news,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Belay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belay. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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