Definition

1. Noun:

   • (Nautical) A supporting rope or cable: A strong rope or wire used to support a mast or spar on a ship.
   • A stiffening strip: A thin piece of metal or bone used to stiffen a garment, such as a corset.
   • (Law) A suspension of proceedings: A court order that temporarily stops a legal action or judgment from being enforced.
   • A period of time spent in a place: The act or duration of continuing to be in a specific location or condition.

2. Verb:

   • To continue to be in a place or condition: To remain in a specific location, position, or state.
   • To stop or postpone: To halt, delay, or suspend an action, especially a legal one.
   • To endure or withstand: To last through or bear a difficult situation.
   • To reside temporarily: To live somewhere for a short time as a guest or visitor.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The ship's mast was secured with a strong stay. (The supporting rope held the mast firmly.)
  • The judge granted a stay of execution. (The judge ordered a temporary halt to the execution.)
  • We enjoyed our stay at the seaside hotel. (We liked the time we spent at the hotel.)

• Verb:

  • Please stay here until I return. (Please remain in this place.)
  • The court decided to stay the injunction. (The court decided to suspend the legal order.)
  • Can you stay for dinner? (Can you remain here to have dinner?)
  • He managed to stay calm during the crisis. (He succeeded in remaining calm.)

Advanced Usage

• "Stay the course": To persevere and continue with a plan or action despite difficulties.
  • Despite the setbacks, the team decided to stay the course.
• "Stay put": To remain in one place; not to move.
  • The dog was trained to stay put until called.
• "Stay of execution": (Legal) An order to temporarily delay the carrying out of a court sentence, especially a death sentence.
  • The defense lawyer filed for a stay of execution.

Variants and Related Words

• Stayer (n): A person or animal with great endurance, especially in sports.
  • The marathon runner is known as a real stayer.
• Stayed (adj): (Archaic) Fixed, settled, or sober.
  • He was a man of stayed habits.
• Stays (n pl.): An old term for a corset.
  • The historical costume included a pair of stays.

Synonyms

• Remain: To continue to be in the same place or state.
• Continue: To persist in an activity or state.
• Halt: To bring or come to a stop.
• Linger: To stay in a place longer than necessary.
• Reside: To live in a particular place.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Stay away: To not go near a person or place.
  • The public was told to stay away from the construction site.
• Stay in: To remain at home and not go out.
  • We decided to stay in and watch a movie.
• Stay on: To continue in a place or job longer than planned.
  • After retiring, she stayed on as a consultant.
• Stay out: To remain away from home, especially late at night.
  • Her son often stays out late with friends.
• Stay up: To not go to bed; to remain awake.
  • We stayed up all night talking.

Related Idioms

• Stay the distance: To continue something until it is completed.
  • It's a tough project, but I'm confident we can stay the distance.
• Stay in touch: To maintain communication with someone.
  • Let's stay in touch after you move away.
• Stay ahead of the game: To remain in a position of advantage by anticipating changes.
  • To succeed in business, you must stay ahead of the game.
• Stay your hand: (Formal) To stop yourself from taking an action.
  • I urge you to stay your hand and reconsider this decision.

Noun

1. (nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar
2. a thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)
3. a judicial order forbidding some action until an event occurs or the order is lifted
   • the Supreme Court has the power to stay an injunction pending an appeal to the whole Court
4. the state of inactivity following an interruption
   • the negotiations were in arrest
   • held them in check
   • during the halt he got some lunch
   • the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow
   • he spent the entire stop in his seat
5. continuing or remaining in a place or state
   • they had a nice stay in Paris
   • a lengthy hospital stay
   • a four-month stay in bankruptcy court

Verb

1. overcome or allay
   • quell my hunger
2. fasten with stays
3. stop a judicial process
   • The judge stayed the execution order
4. hang on during a trial of endurance
   • ride out the storm
5. stay behind
   • The smell stayed in the room
   • The hostility remained long after they made up
6. stop or halt
   • Please stay the bloodshed!
7. remain behind
   • I had to stay at home and watch the children
8. continue in a place, position, or situation
   • After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser
   • Stay with me, please
   • despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year
   • She continued as deputy mayor for another year
9. dwell
   • You can stay with me while you are in town
   • stay a bit longer--the day is still young
10. stay put (in a certain place); we are not moving to Cincinnati"
    • We are staying in Detroit
    • Stay put in the corner here!
    • Stick around and you will learn something!
11. stay the same; remain in a certain state
    • The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it
    • rest assured
    • stay alone
    • He remained unmoved by her tears
    • The bad weather continued for another week