staying

staying — verb

  • stayingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • stayings3rd person singular
  • stayinging-ing form
  • stayingedpast simple

1. to choose not to leave a place where you already are, even when you could go som

1.動詞不及物A2
釋義

to choose not to leave a place where you already are, even when you could go somewhere else

例句

Mei stayed in the library until it closed at nine o'clock.

stay + in + place

The dog stayed by the front door all afternoon, waiting for its owner.

同義詞
  • remain

    more formal; often used in written instructions or official contexts

  • linger

    suggests staying longer than expected or necessary

  • wait

    focuses on staying until something happens, not on the act of staying itself

反義詞
  • leave

    to go away from a place

  • depart

    more formal; to go away, especially on a journey

文法句型

stay + adverb/prepositional phrase

stay + present participle (staying + ...)

用法筆記

Frequently followed by a prepositional phrase (at, in, by, with) or an adverb. The gerund form (staying) is commonly used as a subject or object.

常見錯誤

❌I stayed home all day yesterday and no one was here.
✅I stayed at home all day yesterday and no one was here.
💡British English requires 'at' before 'home'; American English allows 'stayed home' without 'at'.

2. to continue being in a particular condition, situation, or mood without changing

2.動詞不及物A2
釋義

to continue being in a particular condition, situation, or mood without changing

例句

The soup will stay hot for about an hour if you keep the lid on.

stay + adjective (hot)

Emily stayed calm during the emergency and called for help immediately.

同義詞
  • remain

    more formal; interchangeable in most contexts

  • keep

    often used with a different structure: 'keep + object + adjective' vs 'stay + adjective'

反義詞
  • change

    to become different from the current state

  • turn

    to become something different, often used with colors or weather

文法句型

stay + adjective

stay + present participle (staying + adjective)

用法筆記

Always followed by an adjective or an adverbial phrase describing the state. Never transitive — you do not 'stay something'. The gerund form (staying) is frequently used as a subject or object.

常見錯誤

❌The food stays fresh.' (wrong if food is spoiling)
✅The food stays fresh if you put it in the fridge.
💡'stay' needs a condition that keeps the state going, not a statement of fact about a current state.

3. to spend time living in a place as a guest or visitor, usually for several days

3.動詞不及物A2
釋義

to spend time living in a place as a guest or visitor, usually for several days

例句

We stayed at a small hotel near the beach during our holiday.

stay + at + accommodation

Ananya stayed with her aunt in Mumbai for two weeks last summer.

stay + with + person

同義詞
  • lodge

    more formal; often used for paying accommodation like hotels

  • sojourn

    very formal or literary; a temporary stay

文法句型

stay + at/in/with + place/person

staying + at/in/with + place/person

用法筆記

Commonly used with prepositions at (for hotels, addresses), in (for cities, countries), or with (for people you visit). The question 'Where are you staying?' refers to temporary accommodation, not your permanent home.

常見錯誤

❌I stayed with my friend last night — we watched movies until midnight.' (if you slept there)
✅I stayed over at my friend's place last night.' or 'I slept at my friend's place last night.
💡'stay with' implies several days, not just one night.

4. to sleep at someone else's home or at a place away from your own home for one ni

4.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to sleep at someone else's home or at a place away from your own home for one night

例句

The hikers stayed overnight at a mountain cabin before continuing their climb.

stay overnight + at + place

After the concert ended late, Sofia stayed at a friend's house.

同義詞
  • sleep over

    informal; especially used by children or for casual visits

反義詞
  • leave

    to go away the same day, without sleeping

文法句型

stay + adverb (overnight, over)

stay + at/in/with + place/person + (for the night)

用法筆記

This sense is commonly expressed with the phrasal verb 'stay over' or the adverb 'overnight'. Use 'stay over' for informal sleeping arrangements at a friend's home; use 'stay overnight' for any one-night stay away from home.

常見錯誤

❌I stayed the night at a hotel during my trip.' (ambiguous)
✅I stayed overnight at a hotel during my trip.
💡'overnight' clarifies it was just one night.

5. to live in a particular place as your permanent home rather than moving away

5.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to live in a particular place as your permanent home rather than moving away

例句

After retiring from teaching, Mr. Chen chose to stay in the village where he grew up.

stay + in + place (permanent residence)

Some birds stay in warm regions all year instead of migrating south.

同義詞
  • reside

    much more formal; used in official documents

  • settle

    implies the decision to make a place your permanent home

  • live

    the most common word; 'stay' adds a sense of continuity or contrast with leaving

反義詞
  • move

    to go to live in a different place

  • migrate

    to move from one region to another, often seasonally

文法句型

stay + in/at + place

staying + in/at + place (for permanent residence)

用法筆記

Distinguished from sense 3 (SHORT VISIT) by the time frame: this sense uses phrases like 'all year', 'for generations', or 'permanently'. The permanent sense also often contrasts with the idea of moving or migrating.

常見錯誤

❌I am staying in Taipei.' (ambiguous — could be visiting or living permanently)
✅I live in Taipei.' or clarify with context like 'I've stayed in Taipei for ten years.

staying — noun