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to stay

to stay

518 5.3
To officially stop an action or process for a time
  • verb
  • /steɪ/
  • Formal
translation icon : suspender
  • The court decided to stay the eviction order until further evidence was presented.
  • stay the order

Even though these cases are stayed by the Colorado Supreme Court.

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Examples

  • You shall stay tied up like that till at least 6:00.

  • Then, choosing his words, he said, "I told him to stay away from the place."

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Even though these cases are stayed by the Colorado Supreme Court.

  • Let's welcome him into our community and hope that he considers staying on a permanent basis.

  • Unfortunately, our factory can't stay in business that long.

  • The meeting should follow an agenda, and all school-based personnel must stay focused on the topic being discussed.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Zhao Ziyang warns the United States to stay out of China's internal affairs.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The judge issued a stay on the trial to allow for additional legal review of the case.

  • Following the appeal, the company was granted a temporary stay on the enforcement of the new regulations.

Synonyms

to cease
vsto stay
324 3.6

To stop or come to an end

is focused on formal or legal orders rather than any ending
to suspend
vsto stay
141 3.9

To stop something officially for a short time

is used when a formal or legal order causes the stop
to put an end to
vsto stay
131 3.0

To make something stop completely

can mean a formal temporary halt rather than a permanent ending
to put a stop to
vsto stay
62 3.0

To end something so it no longer happens

is used when a formal authority orders a stop, not general action
to put on ice
vsto stay
11 5.8

To delay a plan or project for a while

is used for stopping by formal or legal order not casual delay

Antonyms

1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

297 3.1

To start an activity again after a pause

85 2.3

Start something again after it stops or is interrupted

Idioms

1 7.7

To be alert and ready to act

1 8.1

To not drink alcohol after a period of drinking

1 5.1

To keep enough money to pay bills and not owe money

To keep wanting more and trying to improve without accepting being average

To want to keep getting better and to try hard to improve

To keep wanting to learn new things

Keep standing and awake even when very tired

To not ask about or get involved in someone's private matters

Phrasal Verbs

590 1.6

Keep a distance from people or things you want to avoid

450 2.0

To live somewhere for a short time, like a hotel or a friend's house

Avoid going near people or places for safety

336 1.0

Be at home and not go out

264 3.7

Keep power over a situation and stay calm

to stay up
  • Informal
253 2.4

To be awake later than usual

Remain close and loyal to each other during hard times

to stay put
  • Informal
133 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

111 3.4

To remain in a place or job after others leave

to stay tuned
  • Literature
98 3.5

To wait and pay attention for more news or updates

to stay over
  • Informal
70 3.0

Sleep at someone else's home for the night

57 2.6

Avoid walking on places like wet grass or a freshly painted floor

To avoid getting involved in an argument or fight

To avoid getting into problems with the police or people in charge

28 3.4

To watch carefully so you notice danger or changes

To keep informed and in control to avoid problems

To remain connected by phone while you wait for help

to stay afloat
  • Informal
16 4.1

Keep operating when money is low

Remain inside a building to avoid bad weather or danger

Keep your body healthy and fit by doing regular exercise

Not move from a place

To focus on a goal without getting distracted

Drink enough water so your body can work well

To continue acting as the role you play, not as yourself

To keep up with the latest news and events

Remain in good condition and not go bad

To keep to the planned time for an activity without being late

Keep being modest and not become proud when you do well

to stay cozy
  • Informal
1 2.0

Be warm and comfortable at home

Keep up with changes so you do not fall behind

9.8

Keep connected to younger people by using their words and ideas

To continue being liked or supported by a person in power

To remain in someone's memory

Compounds

48 3.9

A person who rarely goes out and prefers being at home

11 8.9

An official order by a court that temporarily stops a punishment, for example a death sentence

9 4.1

Preferring to be at home rather than go out socially

stay-at-home
  • Formal
3 3.5

An official order telling people to remain at home to slow the spread of a disease

jumper stay
  • Specialized
9.9

A short wire on a sailboat that keeps the mast top straight and sends pull from back to front

stay relay
  • Specialized
7.9

An electrical switch that stays in the same position when power is removed

How Complete

to terminate
147 4.6
to stay
  • Formal
518 5.3
to suspend
141 3.9
to pause
346 1.0

Surface Forms

stay infinitive
stayed past
stayed past participle
staying present participle
stays third person singular

Etymology

The word stay used as a verb meaning to stop or pause comes from the idea of making something 'stand still', from Latin stare 'to stand', so to stay a process is to stop it for a time.