staying

The word “staying” means a period of remaining in or visiting a place. In plain terms, usually just the -ing form of "stay" — remaining somewhere, as in "staying power" or "staying with friends.".

“Staying” is pronounced STAY-ihng (/ˈsteɪ.ɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “staying” used in a sentence: “Their staying with us over Christmas was a real treat.”

“Staying” is a noun.

“Staying” is a fairly common word in modern English.

They are closely linked. Stay is the common noun for a period spent in a place — a three-night stay. Staying expresses the same idea as the ongoing act of remaining there. In practice, stay is used more often as a plain noun, while staying emphasizes the continuing action of not leaving.

Staying with friends for the weekend, or staying at a hotel during a conference, both describe a period of remaining in a place. You might talk about the cost of staying somewhere overnight, or how much you enjoyed staying by the coast. It refers to the time spent visiting or lodging.

The opposite is leaving or going — departing from a place rather than remaining in it. Where staying means continuing to be somewhere, its antonyms include departing, moving on, and setting off. To end a stay is to leave the place where you had been remaining.