stay
To remain in a place instead of leaving, or to continue being in a certain state.
Explanation at your level:
When you stay, you do not go away. You stay in your house or you stay at school. It is a very easy way to say you are not moving. If you are tired, you stay in bed. If you are happy, you stay happy. You can use it every day to talk about where you are.
At this level, you can use stay to talk about your plans. You might say, 'I am going to stay here for two days.' It is also useful for describing how to keep a state, like 'Please stay quiet' or 'I want to stay healthy.' It is a very helpful word for travel and daily routines.
As you move to intermediate English, you will notice stay is used in more abstract ways. We use it to talk about maintaining a situation, such as 'staying in touch' with friends or 'staying focused' on a task. It is a reliable verb that bridges the gap between simple location and complex states of being.
At the B2 level, you start using stay with more nuanced collocations. You might discuss 'staying the course' during a difficult project or 'staying ahead' of the competition. It is a versatile tool for professional communication, allowing you to express persistence and stability in various contexts.
In advanced English, stay is used to convey subtle shifts in state. You might encounter it in literary contexts where it implies a deliberate choice to remain or endure. It is also used in academic writing to discuss variables that 'stay constant' during an experiment. The word carries a sense of intentionality and endurance that is useful for sophisticated expression.
At the mastery level, stay serves as a anchor for complex phrasal structures and idiomatic expressions. It can denote a formal delay or a legal injunction, known as a 'stay of execution.' Its etymological roots in 'support' still echo in how we use it to describe stability in volatile situations. It is a foundational verb that, while simple in form, provides the structural support for a wide array of English discourse.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Stay means to remain in a place.
- It is a regular verb.
- It is used for both locations and states.
- Common collocations include 'stay calm' and 'stay home'.
The word stay is a versatile verb that we use every single day. At its core, it means not leaving a place. If you are at a park and you decide not to go home yet, you are staying.
Beyond physical locations, stay is used to describe a condition. For example, if you want to 'stay focused,' you are trying to maintain a state of concentration. It is a very friendly and common word that helps us describe how we spend our time and how we manage our emotions.
The word stay has a fascinating history. It comes from the Old French word estayer, which meant 'to support' or 'to prop up.' It is related to the idea of a nautical stay, which is a rope used to support a ship's mast.
Over centuries, the meaning shifted from physically 'propping something up' to the idea of 'stopping' or 'remaining.' It is a great example of how words evolve from physical objects to abstract concepts of time and location. It shares roots with many Romance languages, reflecting its journey from Latin stare (to stand).
You will hear stay in almost every social setting. It is neutral in register, meaning it fits perfectly in a casual chat with friends or a professional meeting. We often pair it with adjectives to describe states, like stay calm, stay awake, or stay warm.
When talking about travel, we use it to describe where we sleep, such as 'I stayed at a hotel.' It is incredibly common and rarely sounds out of place, making it a 'must-know' verb for any English learner.
Idioms make language fun! Here are five common ones:
- Stay put: To remain exactly where you are.
- Stay the course: To continue doing something until it is finished, despite difficulties.
- Stay tuned: To keep watching or listening for more information.
- Stay in the loop: To keep informed about something.
- Stay on your toes: To remain alert and ready for anything.
Stay is a regular verb. Its past tense and past participle form is stayed. It is pronounced /steɪ/, rhyming with day, play, and way. The stress is always on the single syllable.
In terms of grammar, it is often followed by an adjective (e.g., 'stay quiet') or a prepositional phrase (e.g., 'stay at home'). It is rarely used in the passive voice, as it describes a state rather than an action performed on an object.
Fun Fact
It originally referred to the ropes supporting a ship's mast!
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'ay' sound as in 'day'.
Same as UK, very clear vowel.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'star'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Muffling the 'ay' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy
Simple
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Regular Verbs
stay -> stayed
Adjectives after Verbs
stay calm
Prepositions of Place
stay at home
Examples by Level
I stay at home.
I / remain / at / home
Simple present tense.
Please stay here.
Please / wait / in this place
Imperative form.
Stay with me.
Don't / leave / me
Verb + preposition.
I stay in bed.
I / remain / in / bed
Daily routine.
Stay quiet, please.
Be / silent / please
Adjective after verb.
We stay at a hotel.
We / sleep / at / a hotel
Location usage.
Stay warm today.
Keep / warm / today
Advice/Suggestion.
Can I stay?
May / I / remain?
Question form.
I want to stay for dinner.
She stayed at her friend's house.
Please stay calm during the test.
We will stay in London for a week.
He stayed awake all night.
They decided to stay behind.
Can you stay a bit longer?
I hope you stay happy.
Let's stay in touch after graduation.
He managed to stay focused on his work.
The company needs to stay competitive.
Please stay on the path while walking.
We should stay clear of that area.
She stayed true to her principles.
The price will stay the same.
I had to stay over at a friend's place.
He decided to stay the course despite the criticism.
It is important to stay ahead of the curve.
She stayed composed during the interview.
The results stayed consistent throughout the study.
They stayed up late discussing the plan.
We must stay vigilant for any changes.
He stayed out of the argument entirely.
The memory stayed with her for years.
The judge granted a stay of proceedings.
He stayed his hand at the last moment.
The law stays in effect until next year.
She stayed the inevitable decline of the business.
The colors stayed vibrant despite the sun.
They stayed their course across the ocean.
He stayed his anger to be polite.
The news stayed his departure for a few days.
The structural integrity stayed intact under pressure.
He stayed his judgment until all facts were known.
The ancient tradition stays relevant today.
She stayed the tide of change with her speech.
The ship stayed its course through the storm.
The mystery stayed unsolved for decades.
He stayed his tongue to avoid conflict.
The influence of the movement stays profound.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"stay put"
To not move from a place.
Stay put while I get help.
casual"stay the course"
To continue a plan despite difficulty.
We must stay the course to succeed.
neutral"stay in the loop"
To be informed.
I want to stay in the loop on this project.
casual"stay tuned"
To keep listening/watching.
Stay tuned for more updates.
casual"stay on your toes"
To be alert.
The market changes fast, so stay on your toes.
casual"stay clear of"
To avoid something.
Stay clear of the wet paint.
neutralEasily Confused
Both imply not moving.
Stop ends an action; stay means remaining.
Stop running vs Stay here.
Both imply not leaving.
Wait implies expecting something.
Wait for the bus vs Stay at home.
Both relate to location.
Live is long-term; stay is temporary.
I live here vs I am staying here.
Same meaning.
Remain is formal.
He remained silent vs He stayed quiet.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + stay + adjective
I stay happy.
Subject + stay + at + location
We stay at a hotel.
Subject + stay + preposition
Please stay behind.
Subject + stay + in + state
Stay in touch.
Subject + stay + the + course
He stayed the course.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Stay is a regular verb; use 'stayed' for past tense.
Use 'with' when referring to a person.
Use 'at' for specific locations/institutions.
Use possessive for natural phrasing.
Do not add 'for be' before an adjective.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a statue that decides to 'stay' in the park.
Native Usage
Use 'stay' when talking about hotels.
Cultural Insight
Staycations are popular in the UK/US.
Grammar Shortcut
Stay + Adjective = State.
Say It Right
Don't add extra sounds.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say 'stay to home'.
Did You Know?
It comes from 'support'.
Study Smart
Write 3 sentences about your day.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
STAY: S-ome T-ime A-t Y-our-place.
Visual Association
A person sitting on a chair, not moving.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to use 'stay' in 5 sentences today.
Word Origin
Old French
Original meaning: To support or prop up
Cultural Context
None.
Commonly used in hospitality and daily social planning.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Travel
- stay at a hotel
- stay for the weekend
- stay in a room
Work
- stay focused
- stay late
- stay ahead
Social
- stay in touch
- stay for dinner
- stay over
Health
- stay healthy
- stay active
- stay fit
Conversation Starters
"Where do you like to stay on vacation?"
"How do you stay focused when working?"
"Do you prefer to stay home or go out?"
"How do you stay in touch with friends?"
"What helps you stay calm?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you had to stay somewhere for a long time.
What do you do to stay healthy?
Write about a time you stayed up late.
How do you stay happy on rainy days?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it is regular (stay, stayed, stayed).
No, say 'stayed at home'.
Remain is more formal.
Yes, it can be a noun (e.g., 'a short stay').
Like 'day' with an 'st' at the start.
Yes, 'stay with me'.
Yes, 'stay competitive'.
A vacation at home.
Test Yourself
I want to ___ at home today.
Stay means to remain.
What does 'stay calm' mean?
Stay calm means to keep a relaxed state.
Can you say 'I stayed at the library for two hours'?
Yes, it is correct.
Word
Meaning
These are common idioms.
The idiom is 'stay the course'.
Score: /5
Summary
Stay is a versatile verb used to describe remaining in a place or maintaining a state.
- Stay means to remain in a place.
- It is a regular verb.
- It is used for both locations and states.
- Common collocations include 'stay calm' and 'stay home'.
Memory Palace
Imagine a statue that decides to 'stay' in the park.
Native Usage
Use 'stay' when talking about hotels.
Cultural Insight
Staycations are popular in the UK/US.
Grammar Shortcut
Stay + Adjective = State.
Example
I usually stay at home on Sunday evenings.
Related Content
See it in Videos
![Interstellar-Cooper Leaves Murph Scene [1080p HD ]](https://sublearn.com/storage/thumbnails/yMpdgnUYVNo.jpg)
Learn it in Context
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More Actions words
abcredance
C1To formally grant credibility or validate the authenticity of a claim, process, or document based on rigorous evidence. It involves the transition of a statement or entity from a state of uncertainty to one of accepted institutional or logical fact.
abnasccide
C1Describing something that is characterized by a natural tendency to shed, detach, or be cut off at a specific stage of development or under certain conditions. It is most commonly used in botanical or technical contexts to describe parts that are designed to separate from the main body.
absorb
B2To take in or soak up energy, liquid, or other substances by chemical or physical action; also used metaphorically to mean taking in and understanding information or grasping the full attention of someone.
abstain
C1To voluntarily refrain from an action or practice, especially one that is considered unhealthy or morally questionable. It is also used formally to describe the act of choosing not to cast a vote in an election or deliberation.
abvictly
C1To decisively and abruptly resolve a complex situation or dispute by exercising overwhelming force or authority. It describes the act of bringing an immediate, non-negotiable end to a conflict, often bypassing traditional steps of negotiation.
abvitfy
C1The inherent capacity or latent potential within a system or individual to adapt quickly and effectively to unforeseen technological or structural changes. It describes a sophisticated form of resilience that allows for an immediate pivot and evolution without a loss of core function.
accelerate
C1To increase the speed or rate of something, or to make a process happen sooner than expected. In technical contexts, it refers to the rate of change of velocity, while in general contexts, it often describes the speeding up of progress or development.
accept
A1To agree to receive something that someone offers you, or to say yes to an invitation or a suggestion. It can also mean to believe that something is true or to recognize a situation as it is.
achieve
A2To successfully reach a goal or finish a task using your effort and skills. It describes the act of completing something positive after working hard for it.
acquiesce
C1To accept something reluctantly but without protest. It describes a situation where someone agrees to a demand or proposal, often because they feel they have no other choice or do not wish to argue.
