Stay — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈstā/

Meaning & Definition of Stay

Stay (noun)

  1. a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast
  2. guy
  3. the action of halting, the state of being stopped
  4. a stopping or suspension of procedure or execution by judicial or executive order
  5. self-control, moderation
  6. one that serves as a support
  7. a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (such as a shirt collar)
  8. a corset stiffened with bones —usually used in plural

Stay (verb)

  1. to secure upright with or as if with stays
  2. to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the stays
  3. to go about, tack
  4. to stop going forward, pause
  5. to stop doing something, cease
  6. to continue in a place or condition, remain
  7. to provide physical or moral support for, sustain
  8. to fix on something as a foundation

Stay (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time

    "let's stay inside this pavilion until it stops raining"

    similar: abide, dwell, hang around, remain, stick around, tarry
    related: await, hang on, hold on, wait, dally, dawdle, linger, loiter, outstay, overstay
    opposite: bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, exit, get off, go, go off, leave, move, pack (up or off), peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, shove (off), take off, vamoose, walk out
    near: abscond, book (slang), decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, run away, scat, scram, skip, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate

  2. to bring (something) to a standstill

    "stay the trial until this new evidence has been processed"

    similar: arrest, bring up, catch, check, draw up, fetch up, halt, hold up, pull up, stall, still, stop
    related: baffle, balk, block, blockade, bottleneck, clog, dam, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, obstruct, snag, stem, conclude, cut off, end, terminate, call, discontinue, suspend, choke off, rein (in), repress, squash, squelch, stanch, stunt, suppress, turn back
    near: carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep (on), keep up, persist, run on, advance, fare, go along, march, move, proceed, progress, wend, actuate, budge, drive, goad, impel, propel, push, spur, stir

  3. to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something

    "we'll stay for a while longer and see if anyone shows up"

    similar: await, bide, hold on, wait, bide one's time, cool one's heels, hold one's breath, sit tight
    related: hang around, linger, remain, stick around, tarry, stand by, anticipate, expect, watch (for)

  4. to reside as a temporary guest

    "let's stay at a quaint inn rather than at some generic motel"

    similar: crash (slang), sojourn, tarry, visit
    related: come by, come over, drop by, drop in, run in, step in, stop (by), frequent, hang (around or out), haunt, inhabit, occupy
    near: abide, dwell, live, reside

  5. to hold up or serve as a foundation for

    "beams being used to stay the bridge while it is undergoing repairs"

    similar: bear, bolster, brace, buttress, carry, prop (up), shore (up), support, sustain, undergird, underpin, uphold
    related: steady, truss, underlie

Stay (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a temporary residing as another's guest

    "my mother-in-law is coming for a brief stay next week"

    similar: sojourn, tarry, visit
    related: field trip, homestay, sleepover, layover, stop, stopover

  2. 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"

    similar: arrest, arrestment, cease, cessation, check, close, closedown, closure, conclusion, cutoff, discontinuance, discontinuation, end, ending, expiration, finish, halt, lapse, offset, shutdown, shutoff, stop, stoppage, surcease, termination
    related: mop-up, phaseout, abeyance, break, interruption, layoff, letup, moratorium, pause, standstill, suspension
    opposite: continuance, continuation
    near: extension, persistence, prolongation

  3. 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"

    similar: brace, buttress, mount, mounting, prop, reinforcement, shore, spur, support, underpinning
    related: shoring, column, pedestal, pilaster, pillar, arch, bolster, bracket, cantilever, girder, bearing, crutch, peg, post, stake, stanchion, stand, stilt, strut, truss, base, foundation, frame

Related Entry: Stay clear of (phrase)

Stay clear of is a different word from Stay. The synonyms below are for stay clear of, not for stay.

  1. to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery

    "He adroitly changed the subject to stay clear of having to admit what he'd done."

    similar: avoid, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, finesse, get around, scape, shake, shirk, shuffle (out of), shun, weasel (out of), fight shy of, keep clear of, steer clear of
    related: miss, avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off), ban, bar, debar, eliminate, except, exclude, preclude, rule out, bypass, circumvent, skirt, foil, fox, frustrate, outfox, outsmart, outwit, overreach, thwart
    near: accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome, catch, contract, incur

Related Entry: Stay (at) (verb)

Stay (at) is a different word from Stay. The synonyms below are for stay (at), not for stay.

  1. as in camp (out in), stop (over)

    similar: camp (out in), sojourn (at), stop (over), tarry (in), call (on or upon), drop by, drop in, pop (in), run (in), stop (by or in), infest, invade, overrun, swarm, attend, take in, patronize, affect, frequent, habituate, hang (at), haunt, resort (to), visit
    opposite: avoid, shun, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, shake

Related Entry: Stay-at-home (noun)

Stay-at-home is a different word from Stay. The synonyms below are for stay-at-home, not for stay.

  1. as in homemaker, housewife

    similar: hausfrau, homemaker, househusband, housekeeper, housewife, better half, companion, consort, husband, mate, partner, significant other, soulmate, spouse, wife

Related Entry: Stay-at-homes (noun)

Stay-at-homes is a different word from Stay. The synonyms below are for stay-at-homes, not for stay.

  1. as in homemakers, housewives

    similar: hausfraus, homemakers, househusbands, housekeepers, housewives, better halves, companions, consorts, husbands, mates, partners, significant others, soul mates, spouses, wives

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Stay

The most common words with a similar meaning to Stay:

Slang: crash
abide, dwell, hang around, remain, stick around, tarry, arrest, bring up, catch, check, draw up, fetch up, halt, hold up, pull up, stall, still, stop, await, bide, hold on, wait, sojourn, visit, bide one's time, cool one's heels, hold one's breath, sit tight, bear, bolster, brace, buttress, carry, prop (up), shore (up), support, sustain, undergird, underpin, uphold

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Stay

Words with the opposite meaning of Stay:

bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off, clear out, cut out, depart, exit, get off, go, go off, leave, move, pack (up or off), peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, shove (off), take off, vamoose, walk out, continuance, continuation

Related Words for Stay

hang on, dally, dawdle, linger, loiter, outstay, overstay, baffle, balk, block, blockade, bottleneck, clog, dam, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, obstruct, snag, stem, conclude, cut off, terminate, call, discontinue, suspend, choke off, rein (in)

Near Antonyms of Stay

abscond, book, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, run away, scat, scram, skip, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate, carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep (on), keep up, persist, run on, advance, fare, go along, march, proceed, progress, wend

Word Forms of Stay

Inflections: stayed, staying, stays, staid

Origin & Etymology of Stay

Middle English, from Old English stæg; akin to Old Norse stag stay

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Stay

Words & Phrases Containing Stay

stay-at-home, stay away, stay behind

Frequently Asked Questions about Stay

What does "Stay" mean?

"Stay" means a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Stay"?

Other words for "Stay" include abide, dwell, hang around, remain, stick around, tarry, arrest and bring up. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Stay" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Stay"?

There are 162 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Stay". Common alternatives include abide, dwell, hang around, remain, stick around, tarry, arrest, bring up, catch and check.

What is the opposite of "Stay"?

Antonyms of "Stay" include bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off, clear out, cut out and depart. Near antonyms include abscond, book, decamp and escape.

How do you use "Stay" in a sentence?

Examples of "Stay" in a sentence: "let's stay inside this pavilion until it stops raining"; "stay the trial until this new evidence has been processed"; "we'll stay for a while longer and see if anyone shows up".

Is "Stay" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Stay" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Stay" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Stay" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Stay"?

"Stay" is pronounced /ˈstā/.