Synonyms of stays

stays 1 of 4

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of stay

1

as in remains

to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time

let's stay inside this pavilion until it stops raining

Synonyms & Similar Words

• remains
• waits
• dwells
• hangs around
• sticks around
• abides
• lingers
• tarries
• awaits
• hangs on
• holds on
• loiters
• dawdles
• overstays
• outstays
• dallies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• goes
• leaves
• moves
• exits
• departs
• gets off
• goes off
• walks out
• pulls out
• takes off
• quits
• cuts out
• peels off
• escapes
• packs (up or off)
• shoves (off)
• pushes off
• pushes on
• bails
• bails out
• clears out
• buzzes (off)
• skips
• clears off
• flies
• flees
• gets out
• runs away
• evacuates
• absconds
• books
• vacates
• bugs out
• abandons
• pikes (out or off)
• scats
• vamooses
• forsakes
• decamps
• deserts
• scrams

2

as in stops

to bring (something) to a standstill

stay the trial until this new evidence has been processed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stops
• halts
• catches
• stalls
• blocks
• checks
• arrests
• holds
• pulls up
• hinders
• draws up
• brings up
• suspends
• stills
• ends
• holds up
• impedes
• obstructs
• stems
• concludes
• fetches up
• holds back
• snags
• terminates
• balks
• detains
• cuts off
• clogs
• baffles
• turns back
• discontinues
• suppresses
• dams
• reins (in)
• calls
• represses
• squashes
• blockades
• bottlenecks
• squelches
• chokes off
• stunts
• stanches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continues
• persists
• keeps (on)
• runs on
• keeps up
• moves
• carries on
• progresses
• proceeds
• fares
• follows through (with)
• advances
• marches
• goes along
• pushes
• drives
• stirs
• propels
• spurs
• wends
• actuates
• impels
• goads
• budges

3

as in waits

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

• waits
• remains
• lingers
• awaits
• sits tight
• holds on
• bides
• bides one's time
• cools one's heels
• holds one's breath
• hangs around
• sticks around
• stands by
• expects
• anticipates
• tarries
• watches (for)

4

as in visits

to reside as a temporary guest

let's stay at a quaint inn rather than at some generic motel

Synonyms & Similar Words

• visits
• haunts
• sojourns
• occupies
• crashes
• comes over
• tarries
• runs in
• stops (by)
• inhabits
• frequents
• drops in
• drops by
• comes by
• hangs (around or out)
• steps in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lives
• resides
• dwells
• abides

stays

2 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of stay

as in sustains

to hold up or serve as a foundation for

beams being used to stay the bridge while it is undergoing repairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sustains
• carries
• supports
• bolsters
• upholds
• shores (up)
• underpins
• bears
• undergirds
• braces
• buttresses
• steadies
• underlies
• props (up)
• trusses

stays

3 of 4

noun (1)

plural of stay

1

as in sojourns

a temporary residing as another's guest

my mother-in-law is coming for a brief stay next week

Synonyms & Similar Words

• visits
• sojourns
• tarries
• field trips
• sleepovers
• stops
• stopovers
• homestays
• layovers

2

as in halts

the stopping of a process or activity

we must work without stay if we are ever to reach our goal of equal rights for everyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• halts
• ends
• cessations
• endings
• closes
• stops
• ceases
• finishes
• conclusions
• closures
• shutdowns
• offsets
• lapses
• arrests
• stoppages
• checks
• expirations
• terminations
• discontinuances
• closedowns
• cutoffs
• discontinuations
• pauses
• shutoffs
• arrestments
• surceases
• suspensions
• breaks
• interruptions
• phaseouts
• mop-ups
• standstills
• moratoriums
• layoffs
• abeyances
• letups

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuations
• continuances
• extensions
• prolongations
• persistences

stays

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural of stay

as in supports

a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else

a free press is one of the principal stays of a democratic society

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supports
• shores
• mounts
• reinforcements
• braces
• pillars
• spurs
• mountings
• props
• foundations
• stands
• underpinnings
• buttresses
• columns
• brackets
• shorings
• arches
• crutches
• trusses
• bolsters
• bearings
• pedestals
• frames
• stakes
• pilasters
• cantilevers
• pegs
• struts
• bases
• stilts
• girders
• posts
• stanchions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stays

Verb

Without that function, every other gap stays open by default. — Venkatesh Sankaran, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Skin that stays hydrated without requiring a moisturizer top-up every few hours. — Sheryl George, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026

Retreats built around digestion now range from weekend stays under $800 to experiences valued at up to $20,000. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026

The song stays coiled, neither tightening its grip nor exploding into noise. — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026

But the tone stays family-friendly, and volumes moderate so that no one calls the police. — Craig Kellogg, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Jersey sheets have a cozy four-way stretch that feels like your favorite T-shirt, while long-staple sheets are brushed for plush durability and percale stays naturally cool and wicks moisture. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

VIbee packages will also go on sale that day and include stays at the adjacent Venetian Hotel. — Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026

Remac says the rod stays as quiet as a library room, so you won't be alarmed by annoying sounds. — New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2026

Noun

When Arizona removed Medicaid patients' access to podiatrists, diabetic foot infection hospital admissions increased 38 percent, hospital stays grew 29 percent, and charges rose 45 percent. — Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026

Past literary guests of note have included Rudyard Kipling, Bram Stoker, Agatha Christie, and Stephen King, the latter who outlined the bestselling Misery during one of his stays. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026

Of the 255 rooms, 72 are suites, which shows how thoughtfully the resort is set up for families, groups, and longer stays. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

Members can earn points on stays, receive special rates and discounts, and more, depending on membership status. — Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2026

The living quarters are also designed for extended stays at sea. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026

Demand for farm stays is growing, according to Airbnb, which reported that online searches increased 61% during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year. — Olivianna Calmes, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Average inpatient psychiatric hospitalization stays are five to seven days. — Meg Leduc, STAT, 23 Sep. 2026

Design and hospitality collaborations are on the rise as consumers and travelers seek exclusive experiences and stays. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026