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
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Recent Examples of stays
Community's Choice Awards, Oklahoman, 7 Mar. 2026
However, a meteorologist may tell you the first day of spring is actually March 1 — a date that stays consistent from year to year.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
The dress code stays casual (jeans and sneakers work fine).
—Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
And as a result, the show — accompanied by some quite instructive poster art — stays true to the book’s lusty approach to ethically ambiguous relationships in academia.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026
As a result, the energy of the thunder stays concentrated near the surface, aka trapped near the ground.
—Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The showy foliage stays evergreen in frost-free areas.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
Proper paint storage ensures your leftover paint stays usable for future touch-ups or new projects.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
Whether the articulating mechanism holds up to sustained use - and whether that ratchet stays precise after a few hundred hours in a toolbox - is something only delivery and real-world testing will confirm.
—Omar Kardoudi
march 05, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
Liz Knueven, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Kennedy frequents hotels and allegedly secures large numbers of rooms for extended stays while acting as a business owner, Morais said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
What could that mean to California’s economy if this key energy cost stays at such elevated levels?
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Some destinations even offer stays that are part of the experience themselves — accommodations that are woven into the fabric of the production’s world.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Downtown Tulum Just a 15-minute drive from the beach, downtown Tulum still feels relatively small and is dotted with spaces that may be perfect for longer-term stays, like coworking hubs, grocery stores, Airbnbs, and more affordable eateries.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
The camp is intended for short-term stays before detainees are transferred or deported.
—Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The camp is intended for short-term stays before detainees are transferred or deported.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Castle Hill Inn is welcoming guests back for overnight stays at its Beach Houses and Beach Cottages, a month after the historic inn caught fire.
—Savana Dunning, The Providence Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
As a teaching and research institution, Dean McGee Eye Institute stays at the forefront of advances in ophthalmology, conducting clinical trials and developing new treatments.
—Community's Choice Awards, Oklahoman, 7 Mar. 2026
However, a meteorologist may tell you the first day of spring is actually March 1 — a date that stays consistent from year to year.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
The dress code stays casual (jeans and sneakers work fine).
—Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
And as a result, the show — accompanied by some quite instructive poster art — stays true to the book’s lusty approach to ethically ambiguous relationships in academia.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026
As a result, the energy of the thunder stays concentrated near the surface, aka trapped near the ground.
—Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
The showy foliage stays evergreen in frost-free areas.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
Proper paint storage ensures your leftover paint stays usable for future touch-ups or new projects.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
Whether the articulating mechanism holds up to sustained use - and whether that ratchet stays precise after a few hundred hours in a toolbox - is something only delivery and real-world testing will confirm.
—Omar Kardoudi
march 05, New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
For American passport holders traveling to Europe, travel insurance isn’t a requirement for entry for stays shorter than 90 days.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Kennedy frequents hotels and allegedly secures large numbers of rooms for extended stays while acting as a business owner, Morais said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
What could that mean to California’s economy if this key energy cost stays at such elevated levels?
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Some destinations even offer stays that are part of the experience themselves — accommodations that are woven into the fabric of the production’s world.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Downtown Tulum Just a 15-minute drive from the beach, downtown Tulum still feels relatively small and is dotted with spaces that may be perfect for longer-term stays, like coworking hubs, grocery stores, Airbnbs, and more affordable eateries.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
The camp is intended for short-term stays before detainees are transferred or deported.
—Morgan Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The camp is intended for short-term stays before detainees are transferred or deported.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Castle Hill Inn is welcoming guests back for overnight stays at its Beach Houses and Beach Cottages, a month after the historic inn caught fire.
—Savana Dunning, The Providence Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stays. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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