Synonyms of stay

stay 1 of 4

verb (1)

1

as in to remain

to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time

let's stay inside this pavilion until it stops raining

Synonyms & Similar Words

• remain
• wait
• hang around
• dwell
• stick around
• abide
• tarry
• linger
• hang on
• await
• hold on
• loiter
• dawdle
• overstay
• outstay
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• leave
• move
• go
• get off
• pull out
• quit
• walk out
• take off
• cut out
• exit
• depart
• bail
• peel off
• bail out
• escape
• go off
• push on
• shove (off)
• clear out
• push off
• pack (up or off)
• get out
• fly
• pike (out or off)
• flee
• run away
• evacuate
• skip
• book
• clear off
• vacate
• buzz (off)
• bug out
• vamoose
• abandon
• forsake
• desert
• abscond
• decamp
• scram
• scat

2

as in to stop

to bring (something) to a standstill

stay the trial until this new evidence has been processed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• halt
• catch
• stall
• check
• arrest
• block
• pull up
• still
• draw up
• hold
• hold up
• hinder
• suspend
• bring up
• end
• fetch up
• impede
• hold back
• conclude
• obstruct
• snag
• detain
• cut off
• terminate
• stem
• dam
• balk
• clog
• discontinue
• call
• suppress
• turn back
• blockade
• rein (in)
• baffle
• repress
• bottleneck
• choke off
• staunch
• squash
• squelch
• stunt
• stanch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• keep (on)
• carry on
• persist
• run on
• keep up
• move
• proceed
• march
• advance
• progress
• go along
• push
• fare
• drive
• follow through (with)
• stir
• spur
• propel
• budge
• wend
• actuate
• goad
• impel

3

as in to wait

to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something

we'll stay for a while longer and see if anyone shows up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wait
• remain
• linger
• await
• hold on
• sit tight
• bide
• hang around
• bide one's time
• hold one's breath
• stick around
• stand by
• cool one's heels
• expect
• watch (for)
• anticipate
• tarry

4

as in to visit

to reside as a temporary guest

let's stay at a quaint inn rather than at some generic motel

Synonyms & Similar Words

• visit
• sojourn
• haunt
• occupy
• tarry
• run in
• stop (by)
• crash
• come over
• come by
• drop by
• drop in
• step in
• hang (around or out)
• inhabit
• frequent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• live
• reside
• dwell
• abide

stay

2 of 4

verb (2)

as in to sustain

to hold up or serve as a foundation for

beams being used to stay the bridge while it is undergoing repairs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sustain
• carry
• support
• bolster
• uphold
• bear
• brace
• shore (up)
• underpin
• prop (up)
• steady
• buttress
• undergird
• underlie
• truss

stay

3 of 4

noun (1)

1

as in visit

a temporary residing as another's guest

my mother-in-law is coming for a brief stay next week

Synonyms & Similar Words

• visit
• sojourn
• tarry
• field trip
• stopover
• homestay
• layover
• sleepover
• stop

2

as in cessation

the stopping of a process or activity

we must work without stay if we are ever to reach our goal of equal rights for everyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cessation
• halt
• ending
• end
• close
• conclusion
• stop
• finish
• closure
• shutdown
• cease
• termination
• arrest
• expiration
• stoppage
• check
• cutoff
• offset
• lapse
• discontinuance
• discontinuation
• shutoff
• pause
• suspension
• surcease
• closedown
• arrestment
• break
• interruption
• phaseout
• abeyance
• standstill
• moratorium
• layoff
• mop-up
• letup

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuation
• continuance
• extension
• persistence
• prolongation

stay

4 of 4

noun (2)

as in support

a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else

a free press is one of the principal stays of a democratic society

Synonyms & Similar Words

• support
• shore
• reinforcement
• mount
• brace
• pillar
• prop
• mounting
• spur
• foundation
• stand
• column
• underpinning
• crutch
• bracket
• buttress
• arch
• pedestal
• cantilever
• truss
• stake
• frame
• post
• shoring
• peg
• bearing
• bolster
• base
• strut
• girder
• pilaster
• stilt
• stanchion

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stay distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of stay are defer, postpone, and suspend. While all these words mean "to delay an action or proceeding," stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

When might defer be a better fit than stay?

The words defer and stay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

When would postpone be a good substitute for stay?

The meanings of postpone and stay largely overlap; however, postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

Where would suspend be a reasonable alternative to stay?

The words suspend and stay can be used in similar contexts, but suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stay

Verb

One difference to fungal wilts is that the leaf tissue of plants infected by bacterial wilt tends to stay green even as the plant wilts. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 July 2025

Just what figure Tan has in mind as being sufficient to even consider a sale is unknown outside the club’s hierarchy but what isn’t in doubt is how integral the Malaysian businessman has been to Cardiff staying afloat financially. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 July 2025

Noun

Francis had experienced health issues in recent months, including a long stay at the hospital with bilateral pneumonia. —Katie Wiseman, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

During his stay, the family, who was originally from Oahu, taught Benedett about Hawaiian culture and how to prepare native Hawaiian cuisine. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Phrases Containing stay

• stay clear of