Stay Definition & Meaning
stay
- noun
- 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"
- 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"
- 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"
- a thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)
- (nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar
- verb
- 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"
- stay put (in a certain place); "We are staying in Detroit; we are not moving to Cincinnati"; "Stay put in the corner here!"; "Stick around and you will learn something!"
- dwell; "You can stay with me while you are in town"; "stay a bit longer--the day is still young"
- 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"
- remain behind; "I had to stay at home and watch the children"
- stop or halt; "Please stay the bloodshed!"
- stay behind; "The smell stayed in the room"; "The hostility remained long after they made up"
- hang on during a trial of endurance; "ride out the storm"
- stop a judicial process; "The judge stayed the execution order"
- fasten with stays
- overcome or allay; "quell my hunger"
"Stay" in song lyrics
See how stay is used in real songs:
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"Now it looks as though they're here to stay"
1.4.0. Productions f/ Lenore, Shawn Wigs — Yesterday -
"Will make any man want to stay"
2 Live Crew — C'mon Babe -
"that wanna sponser her clothes and her new place to stay"
2Phace f/ Slim Thug — Shake Somethin
Words that rhyme with stay
Usage tips for "stay"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "stay" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for stay to find words that pair well.
Use "stay" in a verse
Now that you know what "stay" means, try using it in your own lyrics:
Generate a verse