stay 1 of 4

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as in to wait
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something we'll stay for a while longer and see if anyone shows up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to visit
to reside as a temporary guest let's stay at a quaint inn rather than at some generic motel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stay

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verb (2)

as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for beams being used to stay the bridge while it is undergoing repairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

stay

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noun (1)

stay

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noun (2)

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of stay are defer, postpone, and suspend. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

When might defer be a better fit than stay?

The words defer and stay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

When would postpone be a good substitute for stay?

The meanings of postpone and stay largely overlap; however, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

Where would suspend be a reasonable alternative to stay?

The words suspend and stay can be used in similar contexts, but suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stay
Verb
Despite its new aims, Messer said Texas Wesleyan is dedicated to its core goals — staying focused on students, maintaining a strong return on investment for a college education, and remaining an anchor for east Fort Worth. Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 May 2025 Archer was born in Chicago July 28, 2023, and Fair and her husband were staying at a hotel nearby and were there when the surrogate, Tricia Holloway, gave birth. Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
Noun
The bill aims to backstop critical health care infrastructure, while saving Medicaid money by treating people before their ailments progress into costlier hospital stays. Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 6 May 2025 The hotel has an indoor dining option, Brezza, in development, but only the Sky Garden and the Grill were open during our stay. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for stay

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Cite this Entry

“Stay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stay. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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