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

Toberman, a former real estate developer in the United States and France, stays fit by playing pickleball nearly every day, usually for two hours at a time, along with water and snow skiing. — Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026

That’s because even if the tiniest sliver of the sun remains visible, the landscape stays surprisingly bright, the sky never falls into twilight, and the sun’s spectacular corona remains hidden. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Along with permanent judges Shirley Ballas and Mark Ballas, a rotating lineup of guest judges mentors the contestants before helping decide who stays and who goes. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

While conference alignments and schedules may change, one thing stays the same. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

Use a high-quality, balanced, slow-release fertilizer throughout the growing season to ensure your tree stays well-fed. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 4 Aug. 2026

How sleep apnea works In healthy sleep, the airway stays open. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026

As a result, green tea stays lighter in color than black tea and retains more antioxidant catechin compounds. — Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 3 Aug. 2026

There are a few different options for how fast the gimbal moves, and for locking the roll and tilt axes (so the picture stays level even if the handle isn’t). — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026

Noun

When the program was relaunched in 2021, GHA introduced DISCOVERY Dollars, a rewards currency that members can earn and apply toward hotel stays and other purchases. — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

But the cumulative impact of small, everyday souvenirs multiplied across millions of stays costs hotels hundreds of millions of dollars globally each year. — Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026

One-night stays saw a median price of just 192 yuan (US$28) in Kashgar, Xijiang, 373 yuan (US$55) in Dali, Yunnan, and 595 yuan (US$88) in Shanghai. — Matthew Tan,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

The external stays dampened resonance and higher-order vibration modes, sharply reducing internal stress in the upper sections. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026

From the rolling mountain foothills to the wide-open Atlantic coastline, South Carolina’s top stays are known for their warm Southern hospitality and design that showcases the state’s incredible natural beauty. — Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2026

Naturally, on a continent the size of Asia, the flavors of its ultra-exclusive stays are as varied as its cuisines. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 23 July 2026

Expect rocky ridges and steep climbs, with mountain refuges along the route for meals and overnight stays. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026

Puerto Rico has been dealt a heavy hand of natural disasters over the past decade, so balancing your relaxation days with volunteer opportunities or farm stays can also add to your experience in a meaningful way and help locals directly. — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026