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belaying

verb

present participle of belay
as in fastening
to attach (a rope) to something so that it is secure The climber belayed the rope.

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belaying
  1. fastening
  2. tying
  3. clipping
  4. clinching
  5. clenching
Verb
  • If your duvet cover has buttons or zippers, Ceconi recommends fastening the closures before laundering to prevent tangling.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026
  • The vest inflates by pulling it through your kid’s arms and fastening the belt.
    — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of fastening
Verb
  • Kelce is two shy of tying Rice and three touchdown receptions away from sole possession of the record.
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Salvador Perez hit a bases-clearing double to draw the Royals to within 5-4, but the tying run was stranded at third.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of tying
Verb
  • Stembel suggests tightly folding or clipping the seed packet closed, and writing the year on it as a quick hack.
    — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rebroadcasting, clipping or other uses are not permitted without licensing.
    — Brian Smith, Des Moines Register, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of clipping
Verb
  • For the New York Yankees, clinching their 34th consecutive winning season was a milepost rather than a milestone.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Carlos Rodon and four relievers held the Padres to three hits as the Yankees (81-61) pulled within a victory of clinching their 34th consecutive winning season.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of clinching
Verb
  • Years ago, after Jake died, my instinct as a medical student was anger — clenching my teeth and jabbing a pen into my notepad, making a line of inky holes along the margin.
    — Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Janet held the phone away from her ear, clenching her teeth against Maggie’s booming voice.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of clenching
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Belaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belaying. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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