Stay vs. Keep

Difference Between Stay and Keep
Stayverb
(transitive) To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
Keepverb
To continue in (a course or mode of action); not to intermit or fall from; to uphold or maintain.
to keep silence;to keep one's word;to keep possessionStayverb
(transitive) To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
Keepverb
To hold the status of something.
Stayverb
(transitive) To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
Keepverb
To maintain possession of.
I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.Stayverb
(transitive) To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
Keepverb
To maintain the condition of.
I keep my specimens under glass to protect them.The abundance of squirrels kept the dogs running for hours.Stayverb
(transitive) To cause to cease; to put an end to.
Keepverb
(transitive) To record transactions, accounts, or events in.
I used to keep a diary.Stayverb
(transitive) To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
The governor stayed the execution until the appeal could be heard.Keepverb
(transitive) To enter (accounts, records, etc.) in a book.
Stayverb
(transitive) To hold the attention of. en
Keepverb
(archaic) To remain in, to be confined to.
Stayverb
To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
Keepverb
To restrain.
Stayverb
To wait for; await.
Keepverb
(with from) To watch over, look after, guard, protect.
May the Lord keep you from harm.Stayverb
To remain for the purpose of; to wait for.
Keepverb
To supply with necessities and financially support a person.
He kept a mistress for over ten years.Stayverb
To rest; depend; rely.
Keepverb
(of living things) To raise; to care for.
He has been keeping orchids since retiring.Stayverb
To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
Keepverb
To maintain (an establishment or institution); to conduct; to manage.
Stayverb
To come to an end; cease.
That day the storm stayed.Keepverb
To have habitually in stock for sale.
Stayverb
To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
Keepverb
To hold or be held in a state.
Stayverb
To make a stand; to stand firm.
Keepverb
(obsolete) To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell.
She kept to her bed while the fever lasted.Stayverb
To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end.
That horse stays well.Keepverb
To continue.
I keep taking the tablets, but to no avail.Stayverb
(intransitive) 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.Keepverb
To remain edible or otherwise usable.
Potatoes can keep if they are in a root cellar.Latex paint won't keep indefinitely.Stayverb
To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
Keepverb
(copulative) To remain in a state.
The rabbit avoided detection by keeping still.Keep calm! There's no need to panic.Stayverb
To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.
Keepverb
(obsolete) To wait for, keep watch for.
Stayverb
(intransitive) To continue to have a particular quality.
Wear gloves so your hands stay warm.Keepverb
To act as wicket-keeper.
Godfrey Evans kept for England for many years.Stayverb
To live; reside
Hey, where do you stay at?Keepverb
To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.
Stayverb
To brace or support with a stay or stays
stay a mastKeepverb
To be in session; to take place.
School keeps today.Stayverb
To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.
Keepverb
(transitive) To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate.
Stayverb
To tack; put on the other tack.
to stay shipKeepverb
To confine oneself to; not to quit; to remain in.
to keep one's house, room, bed, etc.Stayverb
To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship.
Keepverb
To visit (a place) often; to frequent.
Staynoun
Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time; sojourn.
I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii.Keepnoun
(obsolete) Care, notice
Staynoun
A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
The governor granted a stay of execution.Keepnoun
(historical) The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls.
Staynoun
(archaic) A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.
stand at a stayKeepnoun
The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance.
He works as a cobbler's apprentice for his keep.Staynoun
A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
Keepnoun
The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge.
Staynoun
(nautical) A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.
Keepnoun
The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case.
to be in good keepStaynoun
Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
Keepnoun
(obsolete) That which is kept in charge; a charge.
Staynoun
(obsolete) Hindrance; let; check.
Keepnoun
(engineering) A cap for holding something, such as a journal box, in place.
Staynoun
A prop; a support.
Keepnoun
the financial means whereby one lives;
each child was expected to pay for their keephe applied to the state for supporthe could no longer earn his own livelihoodStaynoun
A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.
Where are the stays for my collar?Keepnoun
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
Staynoun
(plural) A corset
Keepnoun
a cell in a jail or prison
Staynoun
(archaic) A fastening for a garment; a hook; a clasp; anything to hang another thing on.
Keepverb
keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g.,
keep cleanhold in placeShe always held herself as a ladyThe students keep me on my toesStaynoun
(nautical) A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.
Keepverb
continue a certain state, condition, or activity;
Keep on working!We continued to work into the nightKeep smilingWe went on working until well past midnightStaynoun
A guy, rope, or wire supporting or stabilizing a platform, such as a bridge, a pole, such as a tentpole, the mast of a derrick, or other structural element.
The engineer insisted on using stays for the scaffolding.Keepverb
retain possession of;
Can I keep my old stuffed animals?She kept her maiden name after she marriedStaynoun
The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.
Keepverb
prevent from doing something or being in a certain state;
We must prevent the cancer from spreadingHis snoring kept me from falling asleepKeep the child from eating the marblesStayadjective
Steep; ascending.
Keepverb
conform one's action or practice to;
keep appointmentsshe never keeps her promisesWe kept to the original conditions of the contractStayadjective
(of a roof) Steeply pitched.
Keepverb
observe correctly or closely;
The pianist kept time with the metronomekeep countI cannot keep track of all my employeesStayadjective
Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.
Keepverb
look after; be the keeper of; have charge of;
He keeps the shop when I am goneStayadjective
Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.
Keepverb
maintain by writing regular records;
keep a diarymaintain a recordkeep notesStayadverb
Steeply.
Keepverb
supply with room and board;
He is keeping three women in the guest cottagekeep boardersStaynoun
continuing or remaining in a place or state;
they had a nice stay in Parisa lengthy hospital staya four-month stay in bankruptcy courtKeepverb
allow to remain in a place or position;
We cannot continue several servants any longerShe retains a lawyerThe family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staffOur grant has run out and we cannot keep you onWe kept the work going as long as we couldStaynoun
a judicial order forbidding some action until an event occurs or the order is lifted;
the Supreme Court has the power to stay an injunction pending an appeal to the whole CourtKeepverb
supply with necessities and support;
She alone sustained her familyThe money will sustain our good causeThere's little to earn and many to keepStaynoun
the state of inactivity following an interruption;
the negotiations were in arrestheld them in checkduring the halt he got some lunchthe momentary stay enabled him to escape the blowhe spent the entire stop in his seatKeepverb
fail to spoil or rot;
These potatoes keep for a long timeStaynoun
(nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar
Keepverb
celebrate, as of holidays or rites;
Keep the commandmentscelebrate ChristmasObserve Yom KippurStaynoun
a thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)
Keepverb
keep under control; keep in check;
suppress a smileKeep your temperkeep your coolStayverb
stay the same; remain in a certain state;
The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry itrest assuredstay aloneHe remained unmoved by her tearsThe bad weather continued for another weekKeepverb
maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger;
May God keep youStayverb
stay put (in a certain place);
We are staying in Detroit; we are not moving to CincinnatiStay put in the corner here!Stick around and you will learn something!Keepverb
raise;
She keeps a few chickens in the yardhe keeps beesStayverb
dwell;
You can stay with me while you are in townstay a bit longer--the day is still youngKeepverb
retain rights to;
keep my job for me while I give birthkeep my seat, pleasekeep open the possibility of a mergerStayverb
continue in a place, position, or situation;
After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviserStay with me, pleasedespite student protests, he remained Dean for another yearShe continued as deputy mayor for another yearKeepverb
store or keep customarily;
Where do you keep your gardening tools?Stayverb
remain behind;
I had to stay at home and watch the childrenKeepverb
have as a supply;
I always keep batteries in the freezerkeep food for a week in the pantryShe keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigeratorStayverb
stop or halt;
Please stay the bloodshed!Keepverb
maintain for use and service;
I keep a car in the countrysideShe keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping tripsStayverb
stay behind;
The smell stayed in the roomThe hostility remained long after they made upKeepverb
hold and prevent from leaving;
The student was kept after schoolStayverb
a trial of endurance;
ride out the stormKeepverb
prevent (food) from rotting;
preserved meatskeep potatoes freshStayverb
stop a judicial process;
The judge stayed the execution orderStayverb
fasten with stays
Stayverb
overcome or allay;
quell my hunger