at bay
idiom
: in the position of being unable to move closer while attacking or trying to approach someone
—used with keep or hold
The soldiers kept the attackers at bay.
—often used figurativelyThe doctors have been able to keep her illness at bay for several months.
Examples of at bay in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The mesh upper offers superior breathability, but its unique liquid-repellent technology keeps liquids and germs at bay.
—
Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 16 May 2024
They're stuffed with a soft down-alternative filling and designed with a breathable cover to keep night sweats at bay.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 14 May 2024
That stellar defense that kept Boston at bay also led to the Panthers executing on the offensive end.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Thankfully, there’s a quick and easy solution to keep bugs at bay in the form of this popular rechargeable repeller.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2024
The military leaders who took over in Niger accused him of failing to secure the country from the Islamist insurgents, but most analysts say political rivalries were the real cause and that Niger was doing better than its neighbors at keeping armed insurgents at bay.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 4 May 2024
Some creams are believed to keep these scars at bay.
—Tiffany Eve Lawrence, Parents, 3 May 2024
Keeping blister beetles at bay requires a combination of proactive measures and vigilant monitoring.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
This unregulated charity work is clearly a means for Potts to keep his own demons at bay, but his efforts for others still make for a heartwarming story.
—Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 1 May 2024
Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 16 May 2024
They're stuffed with a soft down-alternative filling and designed with a breathable cover to keep night sweats at bay.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 14 May 2024
That stellar defense that kept Boston at bay also led to the Panthers executing on the offensive end.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Thankfully, there’s a quick and easy solution to keep bugs at bay in the form of this popular rechargeable repeller.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2024
The military leaders who took over in Niger accused him of failing to secure the country from the Islamist insurgents, but most analysts say political rivalries were the real cause and that Niger was doing better than its neighbors at keeping armed insurgents at bay.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 4 May 2024
Some creams are believed to keep these scars at bay.
—Tiffany Eve Lawrence, Parents, 3 May 2024
Keeping blister beetles at bay requires a combination of proactive measures and vigilant monitoring.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 2 May 2024
This unregulated charity work is clearly a means for Potts to keep his own demons at bay, but his efforts for others still make for a heartwarming story.
—Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 1 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at bay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near at bay
Cite this Entry
“At bay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20bay. Accessed 21 May. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share