1
as in remains
to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time
let's stay inside this pavilion until it stops raining
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stops
to bring (something) to a standstill
stay the trial until this new evidence has been processed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in waits
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
we'll stay for a while longer and see if anyone shows up
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in visits
to reside as a temporary guest
let's stay at a quaint inn rather than at some generic motel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sustains
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
beams being used to stay the bridge while it is undergoing repairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in sojourns
a temporary residing as another's guest
my mother-in-law is coming for a brief stay next week
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in halts
the stopping of a process or activity
we must work without stay if we are ever to reach our goal of equal rights for everyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in supports
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else
a free press is one of the principal stays of a democratic society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of stays
Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Rice starch still sops up oil and beefs up strands, but with an even airier spray that stays invisible and smells softly fruity and floral.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, hydrating heroes like hyaluronic acid and glycerin ensure skin stays natural-looking and never cakey.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2025
Apple diffuses the color and shape of underlying content somewhat and dims it a little so that all of the UI that's up there at the top of the screen stays legible, which usually works but occasionally doesn't.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
At the resort the former couple stays at, Peter meets a new woman named Rachel (Mila Kunis) and grows a relationship with her during his stay in Hawaii while processing his breakup.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Naturally, over-the-air updates will continue to be rolled out to ensure the EV stays at the bleeding edge.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025
Military-grade encryption keeps your data protected, and all activity stays local to the device.
—PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
It all zips up into a compact rectangular case that’s covered in a durable, waterproof material that’ll ensure your tech gear stays safe throughout your travels.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Credits for select hotel stays booked through Amex have increased from $200 to $600; and cardholders now have access to up to $300 for streaming subscriptions like YouTube Premium and Disney+, compared to $240 before.
—Katherine Fan, AFAR Media, 18 Sep. 2025
The study tracked 124 cats and 122 dogs, all over seven years old, and discovered that their average shelter stays were significantly longer than those of younger animals.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The decisions the court issued so far are emergency stays, meant to be temporary.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
The room was clean, had an ensuite bathroom, and, like many of their stays, proved that comfort and adventure don’t require luxury.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
The audit found the motel shelter program had become costly, mismanaged and led to extended stays.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Many digital nomad programs encourage temporary stays, but a few offer long term opportunities to remain in the country.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
And, as befits this lively city, the bar stays open until 4 AM.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Rice starch still sops up oil and beefs up strands, but with an even airier spray that stays invisible and smells softly fruity and floral.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, hydrating heroes like hyaluronic acid and glycerin ensure skin stays natural-looking and never cakey.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2025
Apple diffuses the color and shape of underlying content somewhat and dims it a little so that all of the UI that's up there at the top of the screen stays legible, which usually works but occasionally doesn't.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
At the resort the former couple stays at, Peter meets a new woman named Rachel (Mila Kunis) and grows a relationship with her during his stay in Hawaii while processing his breakup.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Naturally, over-the-air updates will continue to be rolled out to ensure the EV stays at the bleeding edge.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025
Military-grade encryption keeps your data protected, and all activity stays local to the device.
—PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025
It all zips up into a compact rectangular case that’s covered in a durable, waterproof material that’ll ensure your tech gear stays safe throughout your travels.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Several other projects, like The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show, have managed more than a decade on the list, with 839 and 673 stays, respectively.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Credits for select hotel stays booked through Amex have increased from $200 to $600; and cardholders now have access to up to $300 for streaming subscriptions like YouTube Premium and Disney+, compared to $240 before.
—Katherine Fan, AFAR Media, 18 Sep. 2025
The study tracked 124 cats and 122 dogs, all over seven years old, and discovered that their average shelter stays were significantly longer than those of younger animals.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The decisions the court issued so far are emergency stays, meant to be temporary.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
The room was clean, had an ensuite bathroom, and, like many of their stays, proved that comfort and adventure don’t require luxury.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025
The audit found the motel shelter program had become costly, mismanaged and led to extended stays.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Many digital nomad programs encourage temporary stays, but a few offer long term opportunities to remain in the country.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stays. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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