as in to fasten
to attach (a rope) to something so that it is secure
The climber belayed the rope.
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Recent Examples of belay
The ship’s resting place deep underwater helped preserve key features, like bow clamps and belaying pins, by limiting the growth of invasive quagga mussels, as noted in the release.
—
Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Drinking should happen after you’re done belaying for the day.
—Outside Editors, Outside Online, 3 July 2025
So the climbers who found the elk helped rig him up to belay the creature to the base of the wall, officials said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2025
Born as a design concept to give climbers a shoe to wear for quick access to the crag, comfort when belaying and recovery after a climb, the Kragg fills a need.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belay
Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Drinking should happen after you’re done belaying for the day.
—Outside Editors, Outside Online, 3 July 2025
So the climbers who found the elk helped rig him up to belay the creature to the base of the wall, officials said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2025
Born as a design concept to give climbers a shoe to wear for quick access to the crag, comfort when belaying and recovery after a climb, the Kragg fills a need.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belay
Verb
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Curry was next placed in a prone position on his stomach and had his hands pinned behind his back by both Wilson and Shane, who fastened handcuffs, according to the court document.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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There had been no time to fasten safety belts.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Before the game, the Wizards were tied with the Indiana Pacers for the worst team in the league, but by the end of the night the bottom spot was theirs alone.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Trailing by three after a disastrous first period, the Sharks got goals from Nick Leddy and Macklin Celebrini in the second period, and a nifty third-period goal from Alex Wennberg to tie the game and bring the capacity crowd at SAP Center to life.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bruce checked the number on the oxygen monitor still clipped to Louise’s finger.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Woods, 50, had to climb out of the passenger's side door of his Land Rover in the wake of the March 27 crash on Jupiter Island, because the car had flipped onto its side after clipping the trailer attached to a pickup truck driving in front of him, according to the arrest report.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Adelman didn’t rule out the possibility that Watson could return before the end of the regular season, but Denver has only five games remaining, followed by a few days of rest and preparation for a first-round playoff series that was clinched this week.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
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His Wolverines held Illinois at bay for an 84-70 win at State Farm Center that clinched the Big Ten regular-season title for Michigan.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, the flop of the funding deal has given Democrats another chance to pin the partial shutdown on House Republicans.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
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When gas prices are up, the party not in power is likely to pin it on the party in power.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Protect against teeth grinding, clenching and enamel damage with custom dental solutions from ClearClub.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Among many Niger Deltans, there’s a mixture of ignorance, nonchalance, and clenched resignation around the industry’s environmental dangers, which take a back seat as folks get on with the business of everyday survival.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The astronauts will be driven to the launch pad roughly 4 hours and 40 minutes before liftoff, where crews will help strap them into their seats aboard the Orion capsule.—
Tom Costello,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
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Targeting liftoff as early as next Wednesday, the quartet will strap into the spacecraft safe and sound thanks to the five people that are part of the closeout crew.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belay. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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