Keep vs. Stay
Difference Between Keep and Stay
Keepverb
To retain possession of
kept the change.must keep your composure.Stayverb
To continue to be in a place or condition
stay home.stay calm.Keepverb
To have as a supply
keep spare parts in case of emergency.Stayverb
To remain or sojourn as a guest or lodger
stayed at a motel.Keepverb
To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support
"There's little to earn and many to keep" (Charles Kingsley).Stayverb
To linger or wait in order to do or experience something
We stayed to watch the final minutes of the game.Keepverb
To support (a mistress or lover) financially.
Stayverb
To continue or persist in an action or activity
stayed with the original plan.stayed in college.Keepverb
To put customarily; store
Where do you keep your saw?.Stayverb
To keep up in a race or contest
tried to stay with the lead runner.Keepverb
To supply with room and board for a charge
keep boarders.Stayverb
(Games) To meet a bet in poker without raising it.
Keepverb
To raise
keep chickens.Stayverb
(Archaic) To stop moving or stop doing something.
Keepverb
To maintain for use or service
an urbanite who didn't keep a car.Stayverb
To remain during
stayed the week with my parents.stayed the duration of the game.Keepverb
To manage, tend, or have charge of
Keep the shop while I'm away.Stayverb
To stop or restrain; check
Doubt stayed his hand.Keepverb
To preserve (food).
Stayverb
To suspend by legal order the implementation of (a planned action), especially pending further proceedings
stay a prisoner's execution.Keepverb
To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action
tried to keep the patient calm.Stayverb
To satisfy or appease temporarily
stayed his anger.Keepverb
To maintain records or entries in
keep a yearly diary.Stayverb
(Archaic) To wait for; await
"I will not stay thy questions. Let me go./ Or if thou follow me, do not believe / But I shall do thee mischief in the wood" (Shakespeare).Keepverb
To enter (data) in a book
keep financial records.Stayverb
To brace, support, or prop up
The tower is stayed with cables.Keepverb
To detain
was kept after school.Stayverb
To put (a ship) on the opposite tack or to come about.
Keepverb
To restrain
kept the child away from the stove.kept the crowd back with barriers.Staynoun
A brief period of residence or visiting.
Keepverb
To prevent or deter
tried to keep the ice from melting.Staynoun
The order by which a planned action is stayed.
Keepverb
To refrain from divulging
keep a secret.Staynoun
The consequence of such an order.
Keepverb
To save; reserve
keep extra money for emergencies.Staynoun
The act of halting; check.
Keepverb
To adhere or conform to; follow
keep late hours.Staynoun
The act of coming to a halt.
Keepverb
To be faithful to; fulfill
keep one's word.Staynoun
A support or brace.
Keepverb
To celebrate; observe
keep the Sabbath.Staynoun
A strip of bone, plastic, or metal, used to stiffen a garment or part, such as a corset or shirt collar.
Keepverb
To remain in a state or condition; stay
keep in line.keep quiet.kept well.Staynoun
stays A corset.
Keepverb
To continue to do
keep on talking.keep guessing.Staynoun
(Nautical) A heavy rope or cable, usually of wire, used as a brace or support for a mast or spar.
Keepverb
To remain fresh or unspoiled
The dessert won't keep.Staynoun
A rope used to steady, guide, or brace.
Keepverb
To restrain oneself; hold oneself back
I couldn't keep from eavesdropping.Stayverb
(transitive) To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
Keepnoun
Care; charge
The child is in my keep for the day.Stayverb
(transitive) To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
Keepnoun
The means by which one is supported
earn one's keep.Stayverb
(transitive) To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
Keepnoun
The stronghold of a castle.
Stayverb
(transitive) To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
Keepnoun
A jail.
Stayverb
(transitive) To cause to cease; to put an end to.
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 put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
The governor stayed the execution until the appeal could be heard.Keepverb
To hold the status of something.
Stayverb
(transitive) To hold the attention of. en
Keepverb
To maintain possession of.
I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.Stayverb
To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
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
To wait for; await.
Keepverb
(transitive) To record transactions, accounts, or events in.
I used to keep a diary.Stayverb
To remain for the purpose of; to wait for.
Keepverb
(transitive) To enter (accounts, records, etc.) in a book.
Stayverb
To rest; depend; rely.
Keepverb
(archaic) To remain in, to be confined to.
Stayverb
To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
Keepverb
To restrain.
Stayverb
To come to an end; cease.
That day the storm stayed.Keepverb
(with from) To watch over, look after, guard, protect.
May the Lord keep you from harm.Stayverb
To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
Keepverb
To supply with necessities and financially support a person.
He kept a mistress for over ten years.Stayverb
To make a stand; to stand firm.
Keepverb
(of living things) To raise; to care for.
He has been keeping orchids since retiring.Stayverb
To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end.
That horse stays well.Keepverb
To maintain (an establishment or institution); to conduct; to manage.
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 have habitually in stock for sale.
Stayverb
To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
Keepverb
To hold or be held in a state.
Stayverb
To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.
Keepverb
(obsolete) To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell.
She kept to her bed while the fever lasted.Stayverb
(intransitive) To continue to have a particular quality.
Wear gloves so your hands stay warm.Keepverb
To continue.
I keep taking the tablets, but to no avail.Stayverb
To live; reside
Hey, where do you stay at?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 brace or support with a stay or stays
stay a mastKeepverb
(copulative) To remain in a state.
The rabbit avoided detection by keeping still.Keep calm! There's no need to panic.Stayverb
To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.
Keepverb
(obsolete) To wait for, keep watch for.
Stayverb
To tack; put on the other tack.
to stay shipKeepverb
To act as wicket-keeper.
Godfrey Evans kept for England for many years.Stayverb
To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship.
Keepverb
To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.
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.Keepverb
To be in session; to take place.
School keeps today.Staynoun
A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
The governor granted a stay of execution.Keepverb
(transitive) To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate.
Staynoun
(archaic) A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.
stand at a stayKeepverb
To confine oneself to; not to quit; to remain in.
to keep one's house, room, bed, etc.Staynoun
A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
Keepverb
To visit (a place) often; to frequent.
Staynoun
(nautical) A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.
Keepnoun
(obsolete) Care, notice
Staynoun
Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
Keepnoun
(historical) The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls.
Staynoun
(obsolete) Hindrance; let; check.
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 prop; a support.
Keepnoun
The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge.
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 state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case.
to be in good keepStaynoun
(plural) A corset
Keepnoun
(obsolete) That which is kept in charge; a charge.
Staynoun
(archaic) A fastening for a garment; a hook; a clasp; anything to hang another thing on.
Keepnoun
(engineering) A cap for holding something, such as a journal box, in place.
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.
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 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.Keepnoun
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
Staynoun
The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.
Keepnoun
a cell in a jail or prison
Stayadjective
Steep; ascending.
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 toesStayadjective
(of a roof) Steeply pitched.
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 midnightStayadjective
Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.
Keepverb
retain possession of;
Can I keep my old stuffed animals?She kept her maiden name after she marriedStayadjective
Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.
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 marblesStayadverb
Steeply.
Keepverb
conform one's action or practice to;
keep appointmentsshe never keeps her promisesWe kept to the original conditions of the contractStaynoun
continuing or remaining in a place or state;
they had a nice stay in Parisa lengthy hospital staya four-month stay in bankruptcy courtKeepverb
observe correctly or closely;
The pianist kept time with the metronomekeep countI cannot keep track of all my employeesStaynoun
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
look after; be the keeper of; have charge of;
He keeps the shop when I am goneStaynoun
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
maintain by writing regular records;
keep a diarymaintain a recordkeep notesStaynoun
(nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar
Keepverb
supply with room and board;
He is keeping three women in the guest cottagekeep boardersStaynoun
a thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)
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 couldStayverb
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
supply with necessities and support;
She alone sustained her familyThe money will sustain our good causeThere's little to earn and many to keepStayverb
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
fail to spoil or rot;
These potatoes keep for a long timeStayverb
dwell;
You can stay with me while you are in townstay a bit longer--the day is still youngKeepverb
celebrate, as of holidays or rites;
Keep the commandmentscelebrate ChristmasObserve Yom KippurStayverb
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
keep under control; keep in check;
suppress a smileKeep your temperkeep your coolStayverb
remain behind;
I had to stay at home and watch the childrenKeepverb
maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger;
May God keep youStayverb
stop or halt;
Please stay the bloodshed!Keepverb
raise;
She keeps a few chickens in the yardhe keeps beesStayverb
stay behind;
The smell stayed in the roomThe hostility remained long after they made upKeepverb
retain rights to;
keep my job for me while I give birthkeep my seat, pleasekeep open the possibility of a mergerStayverb
a trial of endurance;
ride out the stormKeepverb
store or keep customarily;
Where do you keep your gardening tools?Stayverb
stop a judicial process;
The judge stayed the execution orderKeepverb
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
fasten with stays
Keepverb
maintain for use and service;
I keep a car in the countrysideShe keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping tripsStayverb
overcome or allay;
quell my hungerKeepverb
hold and prevent from leaving;
The student was kept after schoolKeepverb
prevent (food) from rotting;
preserved meatskeep potatoes fresh
