stay
stay
Pronunciation
stay /steɪ/
Syllable 1: /steɪ/
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
/eɪ/ - diphthong (as in "day")
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: stay
Third-person singular present: stays
Present participle: staying
Past tense: stayed
Past participle: stayed
Noun:
Singular: stay
Plural: stays
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To remain in a particular place, position, or condition, rather than leaving or changing.
Synonyms: remain, wait, abide, linger, tarry
Antonyms: leave, depart, go, move, exit
Definition 2: To pause or stop for a period of time; to cease movement or activity.
Synonyms: halt, stop, pause, cease, rest
Antonyms: continue, proceed, advance, go on, resume
Definition 3: To reside temporarily or as a guest.
Synonyms: lodge, sojourn, visit, dwell, reside
Antonyms: depart, leave, vacate, move out
Noun
Definition 1: A period of time spent in a particular place or condition.
Synonyms: visit, sojourn, stopover, stop, residence
Antonyms: departure, exit, leaving, journey (in the sense of the act of leaving)
Definition 2: (Often plural, "stays") A prop, support, or brace used to hold something in place or keep it stable.
Synonyms: support, brace, prop, buttress, reinforcement
Antonyms: destabilizer, hindrance (in the sense of something that causes instability)
Definition 3: (Historical, often plural, "stays") A rigid undergarment, typically reinforced with boning, worn by women to shape the torso.
Synonyms: corset, girdle, foundation garment
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a specific garment type)
Examples of Use
Books:
"To stay sane in a crazy world, it helps to be a little crazy yourself." (From a review of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, The Guardian)
"She decided to stay in the quaint seaside town for the summer, finding solace in its quiet charm." (From a literary review of Summer of '42 by Herman Raucher, Kirkus Reviews)
Newspapers:
"The central bank voted to stay interest rates at a record low, aiming to stimulate economic growth." (The Wall Street Journal)
"Residents were advised to stay indoors as heavy rains and strong winds battered the coastal region." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"How to Stay Productive While Working Remotely: Tips from Industry Experts" (Forbes.com)
"The best skincare routines to help your skin stay hydrated all winter." (Vogue.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "Will you stay with me, will you be my love?" (From the song "Stay with Me" by Sam Smith)
Film: "Just stay calm, everything's going to be alright." (Dialogue from the movie Interstellar)
Television Series: "We have to stay vigilant; the threat is still out there." (Line spoken in an episode of The Mandalorian, Disney+)
Video Games: "Your mission is to stay alive and reach the extraction point." (In-game objective from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm going to stay home tonight and just relax." (Common conversational use)
"Please stay on topic during the discussion." (Used in meetings or group settings)
"We need to stay positive even in difficult times." (Motivational or encouraging statement)
"Can you stay for dinner?" (Invitation)
10 Quotes Using Stay
"Stay hungry, stay foolish." (Steve Jobs, Stanford University Commencement Address)
"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. Stay in the flow." (Alan Watts)
"Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go. And sometimes, it's about knowing when to stay." (Siddhartha Gautama Buddha)
"If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present. Stay in the now." (Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart)
"Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt, but it's the only way to live life completely. Stay open to it." (Unknown)
"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you." (Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing)
"Don't stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed." (George Burns)
"My advice is, stay alive, and then work to change the world." (Noam Chomsky)
"Stay true to yourself, yet always be open to learn. Work hard, and never give up on your dreams, even when nobody else believes they can come true but you. These are not clichés but real tools you need no matter what you do in life." (Unknown)
"Stay in your lane." (Common idiom, origin often attributed to sports or driving, widespread public discourse)
Etymology
The word "stay" has a fascinating history, with its different meanings coming from different origins! It's like several words blended into one over time.
One main root of "stay" (meaning to remain in a place or stop moving) comes from the Latin word "stāre," which means "to stand" or "to stand still." This meaning traveled through Old French as "ester" and then into Middle English as "staien" or "steyen." So, when you tell someone to "stay put," you're essentially telling them to "stand still" or "remain."
The first known use of "stay" as a verb, meaning to "detain" or "hold back," or to "cease going forward, come to a halt," appeared in Middle English around 1440. This is evident in texts like Promptorium Parvulorum, an early English-Latin dictionary.
Another major origin for "stay" (meaning a support or prop) comes from a Germanic root, specifically from words like Old French "estaie" (a prop or support) and Middle Dutch "staeye" (a prop, stay, or help). This is also connected to the Old English word "stæġ" which referred to a rope used to support a mast on a ship. This highlights the idea of something that provides stability.
So, while the word "stay" can mean to remain somewhere, it can also refer to a support or brace, and these two main meanings developed from distinct linguistic paths that eventually merged in English.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Stay
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "stay":
Stay tuned: Remain attentive for further information or developments.
Stay put: Remain in the same place; do not move.
Stay out of trouble: Avoid engaging in problematic or dangerous activities.
Stay the course: Continue with a plan or action despite difficulties.
Stay calm: Remain composed and unagitated, especially in stressful situations.
Stay strong: Remain resilient and courageous, especially during adversity.
Stay up: To remain awake beyond one's usual bedtime.
Stay on top of: To remain informed about or in control of a situation.
Stay in line: To conform to rules or expectations; to behave properly.
Stay true to oneself: To act in accordance with one's own values and beliefs.
Stay away from: To avoid or keep a distance from someone or something.
Stay the night: To sleep at someone's house for one night.
Stay in touch: To maintain communication with someone.
Stay frosty: (Slang) Remain alert and ready for action.
Stay hungry: Maintain a strong desire for success or achievement (often associated with ambition).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of stay from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
