# stay in

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stay-in
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to remain at home

phrasal verb · CEFR A1

to spend time at home instead of going out to a social event.

For teachers: to remain at home for the evening or a specific period rather than going out for entertainment.

- I think I will stay in tonight and watch a movie instead of going to the party.
- Given the torrential rain and the late hour, the couple decided to stay in and order food rather than trek to the restaurant.

Usage: This phrasal verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

## Examples

- Let's stay in and watch a movie tonight.
- I'm feeling a bit tired, so I think I'll just stay in this evening.
- While the rest of the city celebrated, the pensive detective chose to stay in, poring over cold case files until dawn.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: Contrast directly with its opposite, 'go out'. Ask students to describe their ideal Friday night using either 'stay in' or 'go out'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.