The difference between Remain and Stay
When used as nouns, remain means that which is left, whereas stay means continuance or a period of time spent in a place.
When used as verbs, remain means to stay behind while others withdraw, whereas stay means to prop.
Stay is also adverb with the meaning: steeply.
Stay is also adjective with the meaning: steep.
check bellow for the other definitions of Remain and Stay
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Remain as a noun (mostly, in the plural):
That which is left; relic; remainder.
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Remain as a noun (in the plural):
That which is left of a human being after the life is gone; relics; a dead body.
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Remain as a noun:
Posthumous works or productions, especially literary works.
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Remain as a noun (obsolete):
State of remaining; stay.
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Remain as a verb:
To stay behind while others withdraw; to be left after others have been removed or destroyed; to be left after a number or quantity has been subtracted or cut off; to be left as not included or comprised.
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Remain as a verb:
To continue unchanged in place, form, or condition, or undiminished in quantity; to abide; to stay; to endure; to last.
Examples:
"There was no food in the house, so I had to remain hungry."
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Remain as a verb:
To await; to be left to.
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Remain as a verb (copulative):
To continue in a state of being.
Examples:
"The light remained red for two full minutes."
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Stay as a verb (transitive):
To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
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Stay as a verb (transitive):
To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
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Stay as a verb (transitive):
To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
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Stay as a verb (transitive):
To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
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Stay as a verb (transitive):
To cause to cease; to put an end to.
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Stay as a verb (transitive):
To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
Examples:
"The governor stayed the execution until the appeal could be heard."
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Stay as a verb (transitive):
To hold the attention of.
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Stay as a verb (transitive, obsolete):
To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
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Stay as a verb (transitive, obsolete):
To wait for; await.
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Stay as a verb (transitive, obsolete):
To remain for the purpose of; to wait for.
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):
To rest; depend; rely.
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):
To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, archaic):
To come to an end; cease.
Examples:
"That day the storm stayed."
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, archaic):
To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, dated):
To make a stand; to stand firm.
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):
To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end.
Examples:
"That horse stays well."
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Stay as a verb (intransitive):
To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
Examples:
"We stayed in Hawaii for a week.  I can only stay for an hour."
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):
To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete, used with ''on'' or ''upon''):
To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.
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Stay as a verb (intransitive):
To continue to have a particular quality.
Examples:
"Wear gloves so your hands stay warm."
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, US South, AAVE, colloquial, non-standard):
To live; reside
Examples:
"Hey, where do you stay at?"
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Stay as a noun:
Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time; sojourn.
Examples:
"I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii."
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Stay as a noun:
A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
Examples:
"The governor granted a stay of execution."
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Stay as a noun (archaic):
A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.
Examples:
"stand at a stay"
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Stay as a noun:
A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
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Stay as a noun (nautical):
A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.
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Stay as a noun:
Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
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Stay as a noun (obsolete):
Hindrance; let; check.
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Stay as a noun:
A prop; a support.
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Stay as a noun:
A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.
Examples:
"Where are the stays for my collar?"
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Stay as a noun:
(plural) A corset
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Stay as a noun (archaic):
A fastening for a garment; a hook; a clasp; anything to hang another thing on.
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Stay as a noun (nautical):
A strong rope supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.
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Stay as a noun:
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.
Examples:
"The engineer insisted on using stays for the scaffolding."
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Stay as a noun (chain-cable):
The transverse piece in a link.
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Stay as a verb:
To brace or support with a stay or stays
Examples:
"stay a mast"
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Stay as a verb (transitive, nautical):
To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.
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Stay as a verb (transitive, nautical):
To tack; put on the other tack.
Examples:
"to stay ship"
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Stay as a verb (intransitive, nautical):
To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship.
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Stay as an adjective (UK, _, dialectal):
Steep; ascending.
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Stay as an adjective (UK, _, dialectal):
Steeply pitched.
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Stay as an adjective (UK, _, dialectal):
Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.
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Stay as an adjective (UK, _, dialectal):
Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.
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Stay as an adverb (UK, _, dialectal):
Steeply.
Compare words:
Compare with synonyms and related words:
- linger vs remain
- remain vs stay
- remain vs tarry
- endure vs remain
- last vs remain
- remain vs stay
- remain vs rest
- remain vs stay
- await vs remain
- bide vs remain
- remain vs wait
- remain vs stay
- bear vs stay
- prop up vs stay
- stay vs uphold
- curb vs stay
- repress vs stay
- stay vs stifle
- cancel vs stay
- cease vs stay
- discontinue vs stay
- halt vs stay
- stay vs stop
- stay vs terminate
- endure vs stay
- resist vs stay
- await vs stay
- stay vs wait for
- stay vs wait on
- blin vs stay
- brake vs stay
- desist vs stay
- halt vs stay
- stay vs stop
- cease vs stay
- contend vs stay
- break a lance vs stay
- stand firm vs stay
- stay vs take a stand
- abide vs stay
- sojourn vs stay
- stay vs wait
- attend vs stay
- bestand vs stay
- serve vs stay
- continue vs stay
- keep vs stay
- remain vs stay
- backstay vs stay
- forestay vs stay
- mainstay vs stay
- stay vs triatic stay