Stayed

ˈsteɪd

verbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To remain in a particular place or condition.

ˈsteɪd

verbneutralBeginner
General

To remain in a place.

We stayed at my grandmother's house for the weekend.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're at a friend's house and decide to hang out for a while. That's staying! Like, "I stayed at Sarah's place for dinner."

👶 For kids: To be in one place for a while. Like, "The dog stayed in his bed."

More Examples

2

The rain forced us to stay indoors.

3

They stayed friends even after they moved apart.

How It's Used

Travel

"We stayed at a hotel near the beach."

General

"I stayed home all day because I wasn't feeling well."

2

To continue to be in a specific state or condition.

ˈsteɪd

verbneutralmedium
General

To continue in a state or condition.

She stayed quiet during the argument.

💡 Simply: If you're happy, you want to stay happy, right? That's also staying! Like, "I stayed happy even when it rained."

👶 For kids: To keep being a certain way. Like, "The ice cream stayed cold."

More Examples

2

They stayed in touch even after they moved away.

3

The restaurant stayed open late on weekends.

How It's Used

Relationships

"They stayed married for fifty years."

General

"He stayed calm during the emergency."

Tip:Think of 'staying' as maintaining a certain state.

Idioms & expressions

stay put

To remain in the same place or position.

"The children were told to stay put while the parents went to the store."

From Middle English *staden*, past tense of *stien* (to remain, dwell), from Old English *stīgan* (to climb, ascend, but also to remain).

Used since Old English, with variations in spelling and meaning over time.

Memory tip

Think of 'staying' like planting your feet and not moving.

Base: stay
staidstayed at

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written