verb (used without object),stayed or staid,stay·ing.
to spend some time in a place, in a situation, with a person or group, etc.: He stayed in the army for ten years.
to continue to be as specified, as to condition or state: to stay clean.
to hold out or endure, as in a contest or task (followed by with or at): Please stay with the project as long as you can.
to keep up, as with a competitor (followed by with).
Poker. to continue in a hand by matching an ante, bet, or raise.
to stop or halt.
to pause or wait, as for a moment, before proceeding or continuing; linger or tarry.
Archaic. to cease or desist.
Archaic. to stand firm.
verb (used with object),stayed or staid,stay·ing.
to stop or halt.
to hold back, detain, or restrain, as from going further.
to suspend or delay (actions, proceedings, etc.).
to appease or satisfy temporarily the cravings of (the stomach, appetite, etc.).
to remain through or during (a period of time): We stayed two days in San Francisco.
to remain to the end of; remain beyond (usually followed by out).
Archaic. to await.
noun
the act of stopping or being stopped.
a stop, halt, or pause; a standstill.
a sojourn or temporary residence: a week's stay in Miami.
Law. a stoppage or arrest of action; suspension of a judicial proceeding: The governor granted a stay of execution.
Informal. staying power; endurance.
Idioms for stay
stay the course, to persevere; endure to completion.
Origin of stay
1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English staien, from Anglo-French estaier, Old French ester, from Latin stāre “to stand, stand up, be standing, stand in attendance”; see origin at stand
something used to support or steady a thing; prop; brace.
a flat strip of steel, plastic, etc., used especially for stiffening corsets, collars, etc.
a long rod running between opposite walls, heads or sides of a furnace, boiler, tank, or the like, to strengthen them against internal pressures.
stays,Chiefly British. a corset.
verb (used with object),stayed,stay·ing.
to support, prop, or hold up (sometimes followed by up).
to sustain or strengthen mentally or spiritually.
to rest on (something, as a foundation or base) for support.
to cause something to become fixed or to rest on (a support, foundation, base, etc.)
Origin of stay
2
First recorded in 1505–15; apparently same as stay3 (compare Old French estayer “to hold in place, support”), or perhaps derivative of Middle English steye “rope to steady a mast”; see stay3
Definition for stay (3 of 3)
stay3
[ stey ]
/ steɪ /
Chiefly Nautical
noun
any of various strong ropes or wires for steadying masts, funnels, etc.
verb (used with object),stayed,stay·ing.
to support or secure with a stay or stays: to stay a mast.
to put (a ship) on the other tack.
verb (used without object),stayed,stay·ing.
(of a ship) to change to the other tack.
Origin of stay
3
First recorded before 1150; Middle English stai, stey(e), Old English stæg; cognate with German Stag, Dutch stag, Old Norse stag
The reports illustrate relative change, not absolute visitors or duration of stay.
See how visits to retail, grocery, workplaces are trending by area with Google Mobility Reports|George Nguyen|August 27, 2020|Search Engine Land
The package includes up to five nights of accommodation at one of MGM’s Las Vegas-based properties and comes with an “office-ready” room and an executive assistant tasked with ensuring you have “everything you need during your stay.”
A new place to WFH: Las Vegas|Michal Lev-Ram, writer|August 25, 2020|Fortune
Lisa Russell said her 93-year-old mother regressed physically and mentally during a nearly month-long stay in early 2020 at The Springs at Pacific Regent, located in La Jolla.
Confirmed Nursing Home Complaints Plummet During Pandemic|Jared Whitlock|August 25, 2020|Voice of San Diego
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer waded into the fray this week, by signing onto a letter along with San Jose’s mayor, urging the court to grant the stay.
Sacramento Report: San Diego Bills Survive Bad Day for Housing Proposals|Andrew Keatts and Sara Libby|August 21, 2020|Voice of San Diego
“A stay could provide an opportunity for parties to come together with state leaders to negotiate a resolution to this complex issue,” Faulconer and Liccardo wrote.
Morning Report: Throwing Cold Water on Those Sports Arena Plans|Voice of San Diego|August 20, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Models in Israel will have to maintain a BMI of 18.5 or higher if they want to stay employed.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Ney said McDonnell needs to “keep a stiff lip” and stay in close contact with family members.
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv|Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Higher courts, including the Supreme Court had refused to intercede, and the stay was to expire tonight.
The Back Alley, Low Blow-Ridden Fight to Stop Gay Marriage in Florida Is Finally Over|Jay Michaelson|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Stay in formation,” a sergeant from the ceremonial unit said over a public address system to the cops along the street.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Critics accused Foster of giving Duke a payoff to stay out of the race; that was never proven.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
No, Peggy; tis irksome to stay here under the conditions of things, but I see not how it can be helped.
Peggy Owen at Yorktown|Lucy Foster Madison
During his stay at the Cape numerous volunteers offered to accompany him to Sydney, many from on board the ships in the bay.
The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson|Ida Lee
It would kill the lad to bring him up, and as he is my patient, I have told him to stay below.
Peter Trawl|W. H. G. Kingston
No, Pre Flix had not known, but he certainly did come on purpose and on purpose he meant to stay.
A Tatter of Scarlet|S. R. Crockett
He refused to stay all night, and set off in the dark, with Allen's thanks ringing in his ears for what he had done.
Three Young Ranchmen|Ralph Bonehill
British Dictionary definitions for stay (1 of 3)
stay1
/ (steɪ) /
verb
(intr)to continue or remain in a certain place, position, etcto stay outside
(copula)to continue to be; remainto stay awake
(intr often foll by at) to reside temporarily, esp as a guestto stay at a hotel
(tr)to remain for a specified periodto stay the weekend
(intr)Scot and Southern Africanto reside permanently or habitually; live
archaicto stop or cause to stop
(intr)to wait, pause, or tarry
(tr)to delay or hinder
(tr)
to discontinue or suspend (a judicial proceeding)
to hold in abeyance or restrain from enforcing (an order, decree, etc)
to endure (something testing or difficult, such as a race)a horse that stays the course
(intr; usually foll by with) to keep pace (with a competitor in a race, etc)
(intr)pokerto raise one's stakes enough to stay in a round
(tr)to hold back or restrainto stay one's anger
(tr)to satisfy or appease (an appetite, etc) temporarily
(tr)archaicto quell or suppress
(intr)archaicto stand firm
stay put See put (def. 18)
noun
the act of staying or sojourning in a place or the period during which one stays
the act of stopping or restraining or state of being stopped, etc
the suspension of a judicial proceeding, etcstay of execution
See also stay out
Word Origin for stay
C15 staien, from Anglo-French estaier, to stay, from Old French ester to stay, from Latin stāre to stand
British Dictionary definitions for stay (2 of 3)
stay2
/ (steɪ) /
noun
anything that supports or steadies, such as a prop or buttress
a thin strip of metal, plastic, bone, etc, used to stiffen corsets, etc
verb(tr)archaic
(often foll by up)to prop or hold
(often foll by up)to comfort or sustain
(foll by on or upon) to cause to rely or depend
See also stays (def. 1)
Word Origin for stay
C16: from Old French estaye, of Germanic origin; compare stay ³
British Dictionary definitions for stay (3 of 3)
stay3
/ (steɪ) /
noun
a rope, cable, or chain, usually one of a set, used for bracing uprights, such as masts, funnels, flagpoles, chimneys, etc; guySee also stays (def. 2), stays (def. 3)
Word Origin for stay
Old English stæg; related to Old Norse stag, Middle Low German stach, Norwegian stagle wooden post