stay

"Stay" is a common and useful English word with several important meanings. It works as both a verb and a noun, and you will encounter it constantly in everyday conversation. Here are the most common senses.

1verbremain in a place

When you stay somewhere, you do not leave — you keep being in that place. Think of it as the opposite of going away. If your friend says 'stay here', they want you to not move from that spot.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

Please stay in the car while I go into the shop.

We stayed at the park until it got dark.

She told the dog to stay, and it did not move.

2verbspend time as a guest or visitor

When you stay with someone or at a place, you sleep and spend time there for a period — usually a few days or weeks. You are not living there permanently, just visiting for a while.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

I stayed at a hotel near the beach for five nights.

She is staying with her grandparents this summer.

We stayed in Paris for a week during our holiday.

3verbcontinue to be in a certain condition

You can use 'stay' to talk about remaining in a particular state or condition — not changing. It is like saying 'keep being this way'. You often see it followed by an adjective.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

Try to stay calm during the exam.

He stayed quiet throughout the whole meeting.

It is important to stay healthy by eating well and exercising.

4nouna period of time spent somewhere

As a noun, a 'stay' refers to the time you spend in a place, especially as a visitor or guest. It is the noun version of the second verb meaning above.

everyday language / travel · Modern, widely used

We had a wonderful stay at the mountain resort.

The doctor said his stay in the hospital would be about three days.

I hope your stay in our city is enjoyable.

5verbstop or delay something (formal)

In more formal or legal contexts, 'stay' can mean to pause or delay something — for example, a legal process or a punishment. You will mostly see this in official or written language, not in casual conversation.

law / formal language · Formal, more common in older or legal texts

The judge decided to stay the execution until more evidence was reviewed.

The court stayed the proceedings while the appeal was considered.