Definitions for stay

• Definition
• Anagrams (24)

stay stay

Spelling: [stey]

IPA: /steɪ/

Stay is a 4 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 7 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 6 points.

You can make 24 anagrams from letters in stay (asty).

Definitions for stay

noun

1. the act of stopping or being stopped.
2. a stop, halt, or pause; a standstill.
3. a sojourn or temporary residence:
4. Law. a stoppage or arrest of action; suspension of a judicial proceeding:
5. Informal. staying power; endurance.
6. something used to support or steady a thing; prop; brace.
7. a flat strip of steel, plastic, etc., used especially for stiffening corsets, collars, etc.
8. a long rod running between opposite walls, heads or sides of a furnace, boiler, tank, or the like, to strengthen them against internal pressures.
9. stays, Chiefly British. a corset.
10. any of various strong ropes or wires for steadying masts, funnels, etc.

Idioms

1. stay the course, to persevere; endure to completion.
2. in stays, (of a fore-and-aft-rigged vessel) heading into the wind with sails shaking, as in coming about.

verb (used with object)

1. to stop or halt.
2. to hold back, detain, or restrain, as from going further.
3. to suspend or delay (actions, proceedings, etc.).
4. to appease or satisfy temporarily the cravings of (the stomach, appetite, etc.).
5. to remain through or during (a period of time):
6. to remain to the end of; remain beyond (usually followed by out).
7. Archaic. to await.
8. to support, prop, or hold up (sometimes followed by up).
9. to sustain or strengthen mentally or spiritually.
10. to rest on (something, as a foundation or base) for support.
11. to cause something to become fixed or to rest on (a support, foundation, base, etc.)
12. to support or secure with a stay or stays:
13. to put (a ship) on the other tack.

verb (used without object)

1. to spend some time in a place, in a situation, with a person or group, etc.:
2. to continue to be as specified, as to condition or state:
3. to hold out or endure, as in a contest or task (followed by with or at):
4. to keep up, as with a competitor (followed by with).
5. Poker. to continue in a hand by matching an ante, bet, or raise.
6. to stop or halt.
7. to pause or wait, as for a moment, before proceeding or continuing; linger or tarry.
8. Archaic. to cease or desist.
9. Archaic. to stand firm.
10. (of a ship) to change to the other tack.

Origin of stay

1400-50; late Middle English staien Anglo-French estaier, Old French estai-, stem of ester Latin stāre to stand

Examples for stay

“stay in formation,” a sergeant from the ceremonial unit said over a public address system to the cops along the street.

“We would not stay here if you paid us for it,” returned Stephen.

Charmed, old man; deuced pally of you to stay by us down in that hole, you know.

Ney said McDonnell needs to “keep a stiff lip” and stay in close contact with family members.

Higher courts, including the Supreme Court had refused to intercede, and the stay was to expire tonight.

Models in Israel will have to maintain a BMI of 18.5 or higher if they want to stay employed.

Robert was nothing loth to stay, and resumed his place on the grass.

I'm going to stay to dinner with you, and you must give me something better than that.

Critics accused Foster of giving Duke a payoff to stay out of the race; that was never proven.

I'm going back there, and get things in action, and I'm going to stay by them.