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
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Recent Examples of stays
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
This debt stays invisible during steady periods.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
After all, is there anything more personal than absorbing a book for days at a time while the laundry stays undone and dishes pile high in the sink?
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
When demand increases or stays steady, scarcity usually drives the Bitcoin price up upward.
—William Jones, Ascend Agency, 30 Jan. 2026
Or, they could get rid of the box under the court altogether, but make sure the building stays cold enough to keep the ice from melting.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
As of 2024, that count hovers around 100,000 as inflation stays stubbornly high.
—Alison Saldanha, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
If particles form independently, the ratio stays flat.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
The star, who still stays busy recording his Clear+Vivid podcast, celebrated his 90th birthday with a meal in New York City, followed by rum cake at home with his family.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Justin Lewis, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Structural safety refers to whether your gold stays protected from theft, fraud or loss.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 28 Jan. 2026
All stays are full board, with meals crafted almost entirely from produce grown, raised and foraged on the property.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Cover pan; cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed to ensure mixture stays at a gentle simmer, until fennel is very tender, 15–20 minutes.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The 48-bed hospital in Brea and 109-bed hospital in Westminster treat patients for longer stays, typically after they are discharged from acute-care hospitals.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
And this year, there’s a handful of new stays to lure travelers to its white sandy shores.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
These are the kinds of stays that underscore the region’s natural beauty with private pools and hot tubs tucked into the jungle, terraces that open to the breeze, and quick proximity to sandy shores.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026
The hotel is also offering 20% off best available rates, with stays as low as $142 per night during the season, but stays booked with this deal are nonrefundable.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Malick closes in on his actor’s face and stays there, giving us access to his pain.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
This debt stays invisible during steady periods.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
After all, is there anything more personal than absorbing a book for days at a time while the laundry stays undone and dishes pile high in the sink?
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
When demand increases or stays steady, scarcity usually drives the Bitcoin price up upward.
—William Jones, Ascend Agency, 30 Jan. 2026
Or, they could get rid of the box under the court altogether, but make sure the building stays cold enough to keep the ice from melting.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
As of 2024, that count hovers around 100,000 as inflation stays stubbornly high.
—Alison Saldanha, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
If particles form independently, the ratio stays flat.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
The star, who still stays busy recording his Clear+Vivid podcast, celebrated his 90th birthday with a meal in New York City, followed by rum cake at home with his family.
—Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
The cold settles in early and stays locked over the area.
—Justin Lewis, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Structural safety refers to whether your gold stays protected from theft, fraud or loss.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 28 Jan. 2026
All stays are full board, with meals crafted almost entirely from produce grown, raised and foraged on the property.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Cover pan; cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed to ensure mixture stays at a gentle simmer, until fennel is very tender, 15–20 minutes.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
The 48-bed hospital in Brea and 109-bed hospital in Westminster treat patients for longer stays, typically after they are discharged from acute-care hospitals.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
And this year, there’s a handful of new stays to lure travelers to its white sandy shores.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
These are the kinds of stays that underscore the region’s natural beauty with private pools and hot tubs tucked into the jungle, terraces that open to the breeze, and quick proximity to sandy shores.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026
The hotel is also offering 20% off best available rates, with stays as low as $142 per night during the season, but stays booked with this deal are nonrefundable.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stays. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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