Stay
/steɪ/
verbnounA2
Definition
As a verb, "stay" means to not leave a place or to continue being in a certain state or condition. It can also mean to delay or wait. As a noun, "stay" refers to a short visit or the time someone spends at a place.
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See It in Action
To remain in a place or position
- •Please stay here until I come back.
- •We stayed at the hotel for three nights.
- •He stayed in bed because he was sick.
To continue in a certain state or condition
- •Stay calm during the test.
- •She stayed happy even after the bad news.
- •Try to stay focused on your work.
A short visit or time spent somewhere (noun)
- •Our stay in Paris was very enjoyable.
- •They had a short stay at their friend's house.
- •The hotel offers a comfortable stay for guests.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "stay" like "wait" or "stop" (A1 words), but with the idea of being in one place or condition rather than just pausing.
- ✓Picture someone sitting quietly in a room, not moving or leaving.
- ✓It's the feeling when you decide to remain at home instead of going out.
- ✓Sounds like "stay" → imagine a person saying "Stay!" to a dog, asking it not to move.
- ✓Think of the phrase "stay calm"—it means keep being calm, not changing.
- ✓NOT like "go" (to move away), "stay" means to remain where you are.
- ✓NOT like "run" (fast movement), "stay" means no movement or change.
- ✓NOT like "leave" (to exit), "stay" means to stay inside or in the same place.
Try Other Words
- •Remain: to continue in the same place or condition (Use in formal or written contexts)
- •Wait: to stay in one place until something happens (Use when focusing on delaying or expecting something)
- •Live: to stay in a place for a long time (Use when talking about residence rather than short time)
- •Stop: to not move or continue (Use when focusing on ending movement or action)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: stay (simple root word, no prefix or suffix)
- •Etymology: Old English "stæġan" meaning "to stay, remain"
- •Historical development: Used since Old English times to mean remaining in one place or condition
- •Modern usage: Common everyday word used both as verb and noun for staying in place or visiting
- •Key insight: Very basic word connected to the idea of not moving or leaving
Reflect & Connect
•When is it important to choose to stay instead of going somewhere else?
•How can "stay" describe both physical places and feelings or states of mind?
Fill in the blanks
1.Please stay ___ until I finish my work.
2.She told him to stay ___ and not get angry.
3.Our stay ___ the hotel was very comfortable and relaxing.
4.He decided to stay ___ home because the weather was bad.
5.The dog learned to stay ___ when its owner gave a command.
6.Try to stay ___ during difficult situations to think clearly.
7.They had a short stay ___ their relatives last weekend.