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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stops
to bring (something) to a standstill
stay the trial until this new evidence has been processed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 stays
Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
The set is humming with energy, but Morman stays locked in, switching seamlessly from host to producer, moving with the rhythm of someone who’s been in this position a thousand times before.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Sep. 2025
Water mums at the base of the plant so the foliage stays dry to prevent foliar diseases.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
Warsofsky said his plan, as of now, assuming everyone stays healthy, is to pair Klingberg with Leddy for the start of the regular season.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Unlike the chewy candy, this version stays spreadable and is perfect for drizzling over ice cream, yogurt bowls, or even waffles.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
The double-wall vacuum insulation means your coffee stays hot for hours.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Her plea only temporarily stays Heon's hand.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
The display stays bright outdoors, and the huge battery reliably pushes through busy days without a recharge.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Finally, create a regular backup plan using either your external drive or the cloud, so your new PC stays protected.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025
If a park closes in the middle of guests' stays, guests will receive refunds for the unused portion of their trips.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
In Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina, another company is marketing a 31-room floating hotel — resembling a converted barge — with stays from $270 a night.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2025
All stays come with either breakfast or full board (breakfast and three-course dinners).
—Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 1 Oct. 2025
Nearly 23 million overnight tourist stays were recorded in 2024, with similar numbers expected for 2025—surpassing the 20-million annual cap the city implemented in 2021.
—Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 1 Oct. 2025
And that includes, Howard said, the night-to-night stays and temporary placements.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
Those stays lasted only about a month.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
What stays open during a government shutdown?
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
The set is humming with energy, but Morman stays locked in, switching seamlessly from host to producer, moving with the rhythm of someone who’s been in this position a thousand times before.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 30 Sep. 2025
Water mums at the base of the plant so the foliage stays dry to prevent foliar diseases.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
Warsofsky said his plan, as of now, assuming everyone stays healthy, is to pair Klingberg with Leddy for the start of the regular season.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Unlike the chewy candy, this version stays spreadable and is perfect for drizzling over ice cream, yogurt bowls, or even waffles.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025
The double-wall vacuum insulation means your coffee stays hot for hours.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Her plea only temporarily stays Heon's hand.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
The display stays bright outdoors, and the huge battery reliably pushes through busy days without a recharge.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
The easiest way to ensure Bregman stays would have been an extension.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Finally, create a regular backup plan using either your external drive or the cloud, so your new PC stays protected.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025
If a park closes in the middle of guests' stays, guests will receive refunds for the unused portion of their trips.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
In Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina, another company is marketing a 31-room floating hotel — resembling a converted barge — with stays from $270 a night.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2025
All stays come with either breakfast or full board (breakfast and three-course dinners).
—Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 1 Oct. 2025
Nearly 23 million overnight tourist stays were recorded in 2024, with similar numbers expected for 2025—surpassing the 20-million annual cap the city implemented in 2021.
—Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 1 Oct. 2025
And that includes, Howard said, the night-to-night stays and temporary placements.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
Those stays lasted only about a month.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stays. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share