Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense stays, present participle staying, past tense, past participle stayed
1. verb
If you stay where you are, you continue to be there and do not leave.
'Stay here,' Trish said. 'I'll bring the car down the drive to take you back.'. [VERB adverb/preposition]
In the old days the woman stayed at home and the man earned the money. [VERB adverb/preposition]
2. verb
If you stay in a town, or hotel, or at someone's house, you live there for a short time.
Gordon stayed at The Park Hotel, Milan. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He tried to stay a few months every year in Scotland. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: lodge, visit, sojourn [literary], put up at More Synonyms of stay
Stay is also a noun.
An experienced Indian guide is provided during your stay.
3. link verb
If someone or something stays in a particular state or situation, they continue to be in it.
The Republican candidate said he would 'work like crazy to stay ahead'. [VERB adverb/preposition]
...community care networks that offer classes on how to stay healthy. [VERB adjective]
Nothing stays the same for long. [VERB adjective]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: continue, remain, go on, survive More Synonyms of stay
4. verb
If you stayaway from a place, you do not go there.
Government employers and officers also stayed away from work during the strike. [VERB + from]
Every single employee turned up at the meeting, even people who usually stayed away.
5. verb
If you stay out of something, you do not get involved in it.
In the past, the U.N. has stayed out of the internal affairs of countries unlessinvited in. [VERB + of]
After months of staying well out of the problem, Washington has expressed a willingnessto help find a solution. [Voutof n]
6.
See here to stay
7.
See stay put
8.
See stay the night
Phrasal verbs:
See stay in
See stay on
See stay out
See stay up
More Synonyms of stay
stay in British English1
(steɪ)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to continue or remain in a certain place, position, etc
to stay outside
2. (copula)
to continue to be; remain
to stay awake
3. (intransitive; often foll byat)
to reside temporarily, esp as a guest
to stay at a hotel
4. (transitive)
to remain for a specified period
to stay the weekend
5. (intransitive) Scottish and South Africa
to reside permanently or habitually; live
6. archaic
to stop or cause to stop
7. (intransitive)
to wait, pause, or tarry
8. (transitive)
to delay or hinder
9. (transitive)
a.
to discontinue or suspend (a judicial proceeding)
b.
to hold in abeyance or restrain from enforcing (an order, decree, etc)
10.
to endure (something testing or difficult, such as a race)
a horse that stays the course
11. (intransitive; ; usually foll bywith)
to keep pace (with a competitor in a race, etc)
12. (intransitive) poker
to raise one's stakes enough to stay in a round
13. (transitive)
to hold back or restrain
to stay one's anger
14. (transitive)
to satisfy or appease (an appetite, etc) temporarily
15. (transitive) archaic
to quell or suppress
16. (intransitive) archaic
to stand firm
17. stay put
noun
18.
the act of staying or sojourning in a place or the period during which one stays
19.
the act of stopping or restraining or state of being stopped, etc
20.
the suspension of a judicial proceeding, etc
stay of execution
Word origin
C15 staien, from Anglo-French estaier, to stay, from Old French ester to stay, from Latin stāre to stand
stay in British English2
(steɪ)
noun
1.
anything that supports or steadies, such as a prop or buttress
2.
a thin strip of metal, plastic, bone, etc, used to stiffen corsets, etc
verb(transitive) archaic
3. (often foll by up)
to prop or hold
4. (often foll by up)
to comfort or sustain
5. (foll byon or upon)
to cause to rely or depend
Word origin
C16: from Old French estaye, of Germanic origin; compare stay3
stay in British English3
(steɪ)
noun
a rope, cable, or chain, usually one of a set, used for bracing uprights, such as masts, funnels, flagpoles, chimneys, etc; guy
Word origin
Old English stæg; related to Old Norse stag, Middle Low German stach, Norwegian stagle wooden post
stay in American English1
(steɪ)
verb intransitiveWord forms: stayed or ˈstaying
1.
to continue in the place or condition specified; remain; keep
to stay at home, to stay healthy
2.
to live, dwell, or reside, esp. temporarily (for the time specified)
3.
to stand still; stop; halt
4.
to pause; tarry; wait; delay
5. Informal
to continue or endure; last
to stay with a project
6. Informal
to keep up (with another contestant in a race, etc.)
7. Archaic
to cease doing something
8. Archaic
to make a stand
9. US, Poker
to remain in a hand by meeting the bet or raise
verb transitive
10.
to stop, halt, or check
11.
to hinder, impede, restrain, or detain
12.
to postpone or delay (legal action or proceedings)
13. Rare
to quell or allay (strife, etc.)
14.
to satisfy or appease for a time the pangs or cravings of (thirst, appetite, etc.)
15.
a.
to remain through or during
often with out
to stay the week (out)
b.
to be able to last through
to stay the distance in a long race
16. Archaic
to await
noun
17.
a.
a stopping or being stopped
b.
a stop, halt, check, or pause
18.
a postponement or delay in legal action or proceedings
a stay of execution
19.
a.
the action of remaining or continuing in a place for a time
b.
time spent in a place
a long stay in the hospital
20. Informal
ability to continue or endure
Idioms:
stay put
stay the course
SYNONYMY NOTE: stay3, the general term, implies a continuing in a specified place [stay there until you hear from me]; remain specifically suggests a staying behind while others go [he alone remained at home]; wait suggests a staying in anticipation of something [wait for me at the library]; abide, now somewhat archaic, implies a staying fixed for a relatively long period, as ina settled residence [he came for a visit and has been abiding here since]; tarry1, linger imply a staying on after the required or expected time for departure, , linger esp. implying that this is deliberate, as from reluctance to leave [we tarried in town two days; he lingered at his sweetheart's door]
OPPOSITES: go, leave, depart
Word origin
ME staien < Anglo-Fr estaier < OFr ester < L stare, to stand
stay in American English2
(steɪ)
noun
1.
anything used as a support, or prop
2.
a strip of stiffening material used in a corset, the collar of a shirt, etc.
3. [pl.] Chiefly British
a corset stiffened as with whalebone
verb transitive
4.
to support, or prop up
5.
to strengthen, comfort, or sustain in mind or spirit
6.
to cause (something) to rest on, upon, or in for support
Word origin
MFr estaie < Frank *stakka: see stick
stay in American English3
(steɪ)
noun
1.
a heavy rope or cable, usually of wire, used as a brace or support, as for a mast of a ship; guy
verb transitive
2.
to brace or support with a stay or stays
Idioms:
in stays
Word origin
ME staie < OE stæg, akin to Du stag < IE *stāk-, to stand, place < base *sta-: see stand
More idioms containing
stay
stay the course
Examples of 'stay' in a sentence
stay
Those proceedings were stayed pending r judicial review.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We would like to stay somewhere within walking distance of the main sights and restaurants.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You stay one step ahead at work and one move ahead when buying or selling.
The Sun (2013)
Innsbruck has way too much to offer to stay indoors.
The Sun (2014)
Then they come back to stay healthy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Police visit the troublemakers in their homes to tell them to stay away.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can also stay in the hotel here.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
During this time many of these came to stay for long periods.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You are not expected to stay long.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You have to continue to stay focused.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She ended up staying at my place for the night.
The Sun (2012)
They also stayed thin relative to the other mice.
Jack Turner SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)
They do not usually stay out long before slipping back into the reeds.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You guys stayed out of the euro.
The Sun (2012)
He has to be young and stay young to hold the slot.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The average stay in secure care is four months.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You find answers to tricky questions and stay ahead of the game at work.
The Sun (2012)
Take life a day at a time and try to stay healthy and fit.
The Sun (2016)
The other acts are staying in hotels.
The Sun (2009)
And stay away from the doctor.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Accordingly, the stay of proceedings in each case had been unjustified.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
stay
British English: stay /steɪ/ NOUN
The time you spend in a place is your stay there.
He had a short stay in hospital.
American English: stay
Arabic: إِقَامَة
Brazilian Portuguese: estadia
Chinese: 逗留
Croatian: boravak
Czech: pobyt
Danish: ophold
Dutch: verblijf
European Spanish: estancia permanencia
Finnish: oleskelu
French: séjour
German: Aufenthalt
Greek: παραμονή
Italian: permanenza
Japanese: 滞在
Korean: 체류
Norwegian: stag
Polish: pobyt
European Portuguese: estadia
Romanian: a sta
Russian: пребывание
Latin American Spanish: estadía
Swedish: uppskov
Thai: การพักอยู่
Turkish: kalış
Ukrainian: перебування
Vietnamese: thời gian ở
British English: stay /steɪ/ VERB
remain If you stay in a place, you do not move away from it.
She stayed in bed until noon.
American English: stay
Arabic: يَبْقَى
Brazilian Portuguese: ficar
Chinese: 逗留
Croatian: ostati
Czech: zůstat kde
Danish: forblive
Dutch: blijven
European Spanish: quedarse
Finnish: jäädä
French: rester
German: bleiben
Greek: μένω
Italian: restare
Japanese: とどまる
Korean: 머무르다
Norwegian: forbli
Polish: zostać
European Portuguese: ficar
Romanian: a sta
Russian: останавливаться
Latin American Spanish: quedarse
Swedish: stanna
Thai: พักอยู่
Turkish: kalmak
Ukrainian: залишатися
Vietnamese: ở lại
British English: stay /steɪ/ VERB
live for a short time If you stay somewhere, you live there for a short time.
He stayed with them for two weeks.
American English: stay
Arabic: يَبْقَى
Brazilian Portuguese: ficar
Chinese: 暂住
Croatian: ostati
Czech: pobývatkde
Danish: blive hos
Dutch: logeren
European Spanish: alojarse
Finnish: viettää
French: séjourner
German: aufhalten
Greek: μένω
Italian: stare
Japanese: 滞在する
Korean: 머무르다
Norwegian: overnatte
Polish: zatrzymać się
European Portuguese: ficar alojado
Romanian: a locui
Russian: пребывать
Latin American Spanish: quedarse
Swedish: vistas
Thai: อาศัยอยู่
Turkish: kalmak
Ukrainian: залишатися
Vietnamese: ở
All related terms of 'stay'
stay in
If you stay in during the evening , you remain at home and do not go out.
stay on
If you stay on somewhere , you remain there after other people have left or after the time when you were going to leave.
stay up
If you stay up , you remain out of bed at a time when most people have gone to bed or at a time when you are normally in bed yourself.
stay out
If you stay out at night , you remain away from home, especially when you are expected to be there.
stay put
If you stay put , you remain somewhere .
short-stay
available or valid for a limited time
stay secret
If something is secret , it is known about by only a small number of people, and is not told or shown to anyone else.
triatic stay
a rope or stay secured to the heads of the foremast and mainmast , to which hoisting tackles can be attached
here to stay
If you say that something is here to stay , you mean that people have accepted it and it has become a part of everyday life.
overnight stay
a stay (at a hotel , someone's house, etc) lasting one night
stay-at-home
If you describe someone as a stay-at-home , you mean that they stay at home rather than going out to work or travelling .
stay stitching
a line of stitches made in the seam allowance to prevent the edges from stretching
stay the night
If you stay the night in a place, you sleep there for one night.
stay of execution
If you are given a stay of execution , you are legally allowed to delay obeying an order of a court of law.
stay the course
If you stay the course , you finish something that you have started, even though it has become very difficult .
keep mum/stay mum
If you keep mum or stay mum about something, you do not tell anyone about it.
long-stay car park
a car park (eg at an airport ) where cars can be left for a long time
short-stay car park
a car park where a car can be left for a relatively short time
to steer/stay clear
If you steer clear or stay clear of someone or something, you avoid them.
stand the pace
to keep up with the speed or rate of others
long-term car park
a car park (eg at an airport ) where cars can be left for a long time
short-term car park
a car park where a car can be left for a relatively short time
keep out of sb's way/stay out of sb's way
If you keep out of someone's way or stay out of their way , you avoid them or do not get involved with them.
Chinese translation of 'stay'
stay
(steɪ)
n(c)
逗留 (dòuliú) (次, cì)
⇒ We want to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.我们想尽量令你的逗留愉快。 (Wǒmen xiǎng jìnliàng lìng nǐ de dòuliú yúkuài.)
(in institution) 暂(暫)住 (zànzhù)
⇒ an overnight stay in hospital在医院里暂住的一夜 (zài yīyuàn li zànzhù de yī yè)
vi
(in place, position) 呆(獃) (dāi)
⇒ "Stay here," Kate said. "I'll bring the car.""呆在这里，"凯特说，"我把车开过来。" ("Dāi zài zhèlǐ, "Kǎitè shuō, "wǒ bǎ chē kāi guòlái.")
(in town, hotel, someone's house) 逗留 (dòuliú)
⇒ How long can you stay in Brussels?你能在布鲁塞尔逗留多长时间？ (Nǐ néng zài Bùlǔsài'ěr dòuliú duō cháng shíjiān?)
(in state, situation) 保持 (bǎochí)
⇒ information on how to stay healthy有关如何保持健康的资料 (yǒuguān rúhé bǎochí jiànkāng de zīliào)
vt
to stay the night过(過)夜 (guòyè)
to stay with sb在某人家暂(暫)住 (zài mǒurén jiā zànzhù)
computers are here to stay电(電)脑(腦)将(將)深深扎下根来(來) (diànnǎo jiāng shēnshēn zhāxià gēn lái)
to stay put固定不动(動) (gùdìng bù dòng)
to stay ahead of sth/sb领(領)先于(於)某物/某人 (lǐngxiān yú mǒuwù/mǒurén)
All related terms of 'stay'
stay in
呆在家里(裡) dāi zài jiā li
stay on
( in place, job ) 继(繼)续(續)留下 jìxù liúxià
stay up
不去睡 bù qù shuì
stay out
夜不归(歸)宿 yè bù guī sù ⇒ She stayed out all night. → 她彻夜未归。 Tā chèyè wèi guī.