Stay vs. Keep

Stay vs. Keep — Is There a Difference?
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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 possession

Stayverb

(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.
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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.

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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 mast

Keepverb

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 ship

Keepverb

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 stay

Keepnoun

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 keep

Staynoun

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 livelihood

Staynoun

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 toes

Staynoun

(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 midnight

Staynoun

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 married

Staynoun

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 marbles

Stayadjective

Steep; ascending.

Keepverb

conform one's action or practice to;

keep appointmentsshe never keeps her promisesWe kept to the original conditions of the contract

Stayadjective

(of a roof) Steeply pitched.

Keepverb

observe correctly or closely;

The pianist kept time with the metronomekeep countI cannot keep track of all my employees

Stayadjective

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 gone

Stayadjective

Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.

Keepverb

maintain by writing regular records;

keep a diarymaintain a recordkeep notes

Stayadverb

Steeply.

Keepverb

supply with room and board;

He is keeping three women in the guest cottagekeep boarders

Staynoun

continuing or remaining in a place or state;

they had a nice stay in Parisa lengthy hospital staya four-month stay in bankruptcy court

Keepverb

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 could

Staynoun

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 Court

Keepverb

supply with necessities and support;

She alone sustained her familyThe money will sustain our good causeThere's little to earn and many to keep

Staynoun

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 seat

Keepverb

fail to spoil or rot;

These potatoes keep for a long time

Staynoun

(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 Kippur

Staynoun

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 cool

Stayverb

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 week

Keepverb

maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger;

May God keep you

Stayverb

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 bees

Stayverb

dwell;

You can stay with me while you are in townstay a bit longer--the day is still young

Keepverb

retain rights to;

keep my job for me while I give birthkeep my seat, pleasekeep open the possibility of a merger

Stayverb

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 year

Keepverb

store or keep customarily;

Where do you keep your gardening tools?

Stayverb

remain behind;

I had to stay at home and watch the children

Keepverb

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 refrigerator

Stayverb

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 trips

Stayverb

stay behind;

The smell stayed in the roomThe hostility remained long after they made up

Keepverb

hold and prevent from leaving;

The student was kept after school

Stayverb

a trial of endurance;

ride out the storm

Keepverb

prevent (food) from rotting;

preserved meatskeep potatoes fresh

Stayverb

stop a judicial process;

The judge stayed the execution order

Stayverb

fasten with stays

Stayverb

overcome or allay;

quell my hunger