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.
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Recent Examples of stays
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026
Instead, water them once a week, making sure the soil stays moist but never wet.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Lenovo positions it as a personal ambient intelligence that stays present across devices instead of living inside individual apps.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
But as any scary movie lover knows, nothing in horror stays truly dead, including one’s love of the genre.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Purchasing a hard-drive bag will help ensure that your HDD or SSD stays safely intact during transit or in storage.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The report highlights a surge in experiential travel, from Fan Voyage trips that blend local sports and culture with exploration, to set-jetting inspired by movies and TV shows, and Farm Charm stays that emphasize slow travel and reconnection with nature.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2026
Whipping the whites creates an airy base that bakes while the yolk stays perfectly runny in the center.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Unlike other perfumes, Voelkl says, many skin scents have a steady aroma that stays consistent throughout the day, rather than morphing from top to middle to bottom notes.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Rio Yamat, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
BabyBIG works to shorten hospital stays and decrease the severity of illness in babies with botulism.
—CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Affordable stays are common across Tbilisi.
—Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
The nine rooms inside the heritage house blend 1940s elegance with contemporary polish, while the neighboring art deco Simla wing adds larger suites for longer stays.
—Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2025
During their hospital stays, participants were asked about their drinking habits, either directly or through family members.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Instead of freezing, leadership reframed the model around longer stays as remote work took hold.
—Victoria Chynoweth, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
Is this what Adelaide experienced following her many procedures and hospital stays?
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Rates for overnight stays depend on the date and room size, with rooms available for as little as $129 per night in early November.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
Although indoor poinsettia usually stays relatively compact, outdoor plants can grow over 10 feet tall.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026
Instead, water them once a week, making sure the soil stays moist but never wet.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Lenovo positions it as a personal ambient intelligence that stays present across devices instead of living inside individual apps.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
But as any scary movie lover knows, nothing in horror stays truly dead, including one’s love of the genre.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Purchasing a hard-drive bag will help ensure that your HDD or SSD stays safely intact during transit or in storage.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
The report highlights a surge in experiential travel, from Fan Voyage trips that blend local sports and culture with exploration, to set-jetting inspired by movies and TV shows, and Farm Charm stays that emphasize slow travel and reconnection with nature.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2026
Whipping the whites creates an airy base that bakes while the yolk stays perfectly runny in the center.
—Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Unlike other perfumes, Voelkl says, many skin scents have a steady aroma that stays consistent throughout the day, rather than morphing from top to middle to bottom notes.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
However, they aren’t required to cover extra costs like meals or hotel stays — unless the delay or cancellation was within their control, according to the Department of Transportation.
—Rio Yamat, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
BabyBIG works to shorten hospital stays and decrease the severity of illness in babies with botulism.
—CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Affordable stays are common across Tbilisi.
—Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
The nine rooms inside the heritage house blend 1940s elegance with contemporary polish, while the neighboring art deco Simla wing adds larger suites for longer stays.
—Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2025
During their hospital stays, participants were asked about their drinking habits, either directly or through family members.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Instead of freezing, leadership reframed the model around longer stays as remote work took hold.
—Victoria Chynoweth, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
Is this what Adelaide experienced following her many procedures and hospital stays?
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Rates for overnight stays depend on the date and room size, with rooms available for as little as $129 per night in early November.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stays. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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