verb

stay

verb

To remain in a place rather than leaving.

"We decided to stay at the hotel for an extra night."

"Please stay where you are until help arrives."

To continue being in a particular state or condition.

"Try to stay calm during the interview."

"The milk will stay fresh if you keep it refrigerated."

To delay or postpone, especially a legal punishment.

"The judge agreed to stay the execution pending appeal."

noun

A period of time spent somewhere.

"Their stay in Rome lasted just under a week."

A legal order that postpones a court proceeding or ruling.

"Her lawyers requested a stay of the eviction order."

A strong rope, cable, or wire used to support a mast, pole, or similar structure.

"A frayed stay on the mast nearly caused the sail to collapse."

How to Use Stay

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo remain somewhere or in some state, to delay something officially, or (as a noun) a visit or a supporting rope.

Common mistake

In legal contexts "stay" means to pause or suspend proceedings — don't confuse it with "stay" meaning simply "remain."

Common pairings

stay put stay the night stay of execution overnight stay a guy stay

Word Forms

stayer comparative, more stay comparative, stayer comparative, more stay comparative, stayed past tense, staid past tense, stayed past tense, stay plural, stayed plural, stays plural, stays plural, stays plural, Stays plural, stays singular, stay singular, stayed singular, stayest singular, stayedst singular, stayeth singular, stays singular, stayest superlative, most stay superlative, stayest superlative, most stay superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

We decided to _____ at the hotel for an extra night.

Etymology

From Old French estayer, "to prop up or support," influenced by the unrelated Old English word for "rope" (stæg) and by Old French ester, "to stand," from Latin stare.

Synonyms

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repress stifle cease discontinue halt stop terminate resist wait for wait on brake desist

Related Words

abandon can quarter kill finish brake control end

Rhymes for stay

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay

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