stay
stay
Stay (verb) means to remain in a place rather than leaving. Example: “We decided to stay at the hotel for an extra night.”
verb
1
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."
"I will stay at home tomorrow because the weather is so bad."
2
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."
"The children found it hard to stay quiet during the long ceremony."
3
To delay or postpone, especially a legal punishment.
"The judge agreed to stay the execution pending appeal."
"The court may stay the order while the company prepares its appeal."
"A higher court agreed to stay the sentence until the review was complete."
noun
1
A period of time spent somewhere.
"Their stay in Rome lasted just under a week."
"We hope you enjoy your stay at our guesthouse by the sea."
"After a short stay in hospital, he was well enough to go home."
2
A legal order that postpones a court proceeding or ruling.
"Her lawyers requested a stay of the eviction order."
"The judge granted a stay, so the hearing will not take place this month."
"The company asked the court for a stay while it waited for new evidence."
3
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."
"The sailor tightened the stay to keep the tall mast steady in the wind."
"A steel stay ran from the top of the pole down to the ground."
How to use stay
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- stays
- Third person singular
- stays
- Past tense
- stayed, staid
- Comparative
- stayer, more stay
- Superlative
- stayest, most stay
- Archaic forms
- stayest, stayedst, stayeth
Fill the gap
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
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for stay
See all rhymes for stay →Frequently asked questions
What does “stay” mean?
The word “stay” means to remain in a place rather than leaving. In plain terms, to remain somewhere or in some state, to delay something officially, or (as a noun) a visit or a supporting rope.
How do you pronounce “stay”?
“Stay” is pronounced stay (/steɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “stay” in a sentence?
Here is “stay” used in a sentence: “We decided to stay at the hotel for an extra night.”
What is another word for “stay”?
Words with a similar meaning to “stay” include repress, stifle, cease, discontinue, halt and stop.
What part of speech is “stay”?
Depending on how it is used, “stay” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “stay” come from?
The word “stay” comes from Latin. 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.
Is “stay” a common word?
“Stay” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “stay” have?
“Stay” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to remain in a place rather than leaving.
What is the difference between stay and remain?
Both mean to keep in place rather than leave, and they often overlap. Stay is the everyday, more personal choice — stay home, stay a while — and suggests a person choosing not to move. Remain is slightly more formal and works for people, states or things: doubts remain, the house remains empty.
What is the difference between stay and live?
To stay somewhere is usually temporary — you stay at a hotel or stay with friends for a few nights. To live somewhere is permanent, your actual home. In some regions people use 'stay' to mean 'live', but in standard English staying implies a short visit rather than a settled residence.
What is the opposite of stay?
The main opposites of stay are leave, go and depart — all meaning to move away from a place rather than remaining in it. Related antonyms include exit and set off. Which one fits best depends on the sentence, but each captures the idea of not staying put.
Can 'stay' mean to continue in a condition?
Yes. Beyond remaining in a place, stay can mean keeping in a particular state: stay calm, stay awake, stay healthy. Used this way it means to go on being something rather than to change. The core idea is the same — not moving away from where, or how, you already are.
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