staying

Staying is the act of remaining in one place or continuing in a particular state or condition. It is the present participle of the verb stay and is used as a noun in phrases such as a stay at a hotel or an overnight stay. The term can also describe the duration of lodging as well as the broader idea of endurance or continuity.

In everyday use, staying commonly refers to remaining somewhere temporarily, such as staying with friends, staying at a hotel, or staying in a city for a few days. It can express temporary residence without relocation. The verb stay also appears in legal contexts, where a court may grant a stay, delaying a decision or proceeding.

Other senses include staying power, which describes the ability to last or endure over time, such as in sports, business, or memory. In fashion and clothing, a stay is a stiffened strip used to provide structure in garments; staying, in this sense, refers to the insertion or use of such supports. In nautical contexts, stays are ropes or wires used to support masts; while not a direct sense of “staying,” they share the root concept of support.

Etymology traces stay to Old English and Germanic roots, with the word developing multiple senses over time. The term encompasses remaining, resting, or delaying actions, and relates to terms such as remain, dwell, halt, pause, and abeyance.