# stay

/ˈsteɪ/ (US) · /stˈeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stay
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to remain in a place

verb · CEFR A1

to continue to be in a place and not leave.

For teachers: to remain in a specific location for a period of time rather than departing.

- We decided to stay at home because it was raining outside.
- The tourists chose to stay in a small boutique hotel near the city centre to experience the local culture more closely.

### 2. to continue a state

verb · CEFR A2

to continue to be in a particular condition or mood.

For teachers: to continue to have a particular quality or to remain in a specified state; functions as a copular verb.

- Please try to stay calm during the emergency.
- Despite the market volatility, the investors managed to stay optimistic about the long-term prospects of the technology sector.

### 3. to live or reside

verb · CEFR B2 · Dialect · Informal

to live in a place permanently or for a long time.

For teachers: to reside or dwell in a location; this usage is common in specific regional dialects but less common in standard British or American English.

- Where do you stay? I live in the apartment near the park.
- He stays in a small village in the south of the country where his family has farmed for generations.

Usage: Often used without a preposition followed by the location in some dialects.

### 4. to delay or stop

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to stop or delay something from happening for a while.

For teachers: to suspend, delay, or prevent the execution of an action or process.

- The judge decided to stay the execution of the order until next week.
- The court granted a motion to stay the proceedings pending the outcome of a related case in the supreme court.

### 5. a visit

noun · CEFR A2

a period of time that you spend in a place.

For teachers: a period of temporary residence or a visit to a place.

- We enjoyed our stay at the beach resort very much.
- During her three-week stay in the capital, she visited every major museum and historical landmark on her list.

### 6. legal postponement

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a legal order that stops something from happening for a time.

For teachers: a suspension or postponement of a judicial proceeding or the execution of a judgement.

- The lawyer requested a stay of proceedings to gather more evidence.
- The governor issued a stay of execution just hours before the sentence was due to be carried out.

## Examples

- I will stay at home tonight to watch a movie.
- We decided to stay at a small hotel near the beach during our summer holiday.
- While most of the guests departed immediately after the ceremony, a few close friends chose to stay and help the family clear the venue before the storm arrived.

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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.