Synonyms for stay
- verb
- noun
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Remain
remain, keep, continue, rest, stop, sojourn, hold, lodge, hold on, reside, respite, rely, depend, dwell, terminate, desist formal, pause, discontinue, repose, brace, brake, halt dated
2. Uphold — to prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady
uphold, support, sustain, shore up, strengthen, shore, bear, prop up, prop
3. Detain — to stop or delay something. To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder
detain, delay, hinder, postpone, suspend, impede, obstruct, procrastinate
4. Stick
stick, staff, stick around informal, stick with, persist, bind, bone
Other
wait, linger, hold back, last out, wait for, wait on, stand still, take a stand, cease, ride out, end, hold tight
Noun
Other
stop-over, residence, stand-by, guy, suspension, hold-up, interruption, supporter
Definitions
- v. 1
To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
- v. 2
To stop or delay something. To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
- v. 3
To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
We stayed in Hawaii for a week. I can only stay for an hour.
- n. 1
Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time.
I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii.
Related words
- Word family
- stayover
- Phrases
- stay over stay put stay back stay on stay the distance stay up stay behind stay away
Choose the right word
Lodge, sojourn, stay, tarry, and wait always imply a limited time; lodge, to pass the night; sojourn, to remain temporarily; live, dwell, reside, to have a permanent home. Stop, in the sense of stay or sojourn, is colloquial, and not in approved use.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- keep The cold weather may keep the plants from budding.
- continue We have to continue doing this until it gets done.
- remain No visitor can remain in the hospital after 9 p.m.
- postpone We are left with having to postpone our departure.
By length
- 3 letters
- end1, guy1
- 4 letters
- keep1, stop1, wait1, rest1, hold1, bear1, bone1, rely2, halt1, prop1, bind1
- 5 letters
- check1, staff1, stick1, delay2, shore1, lodge1, pause1, brake1, cease1, brace1, dwell1
- 6 letters
- remain2, arrest2, depend2, reside2, uphold2, hinder2, linger2, detain2, impede2, desist2, repose2
- 7 letters
- support2, sustain2, suspend2, persist2, respite2, sojourn2
- 8 letters
- continue3, postpone2, obstruct2
- 9 letters
- residence3, supporter3, terminate3
- 10 letters
- suspension3, strengthen2
- 11 letters
- discontinue4
- 12 letters
- interruption4
- 13 letters
- procrastinate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (rely2 = 2 syllables).