stay behind

phrase

: to not leave at the present time
You can go on ahead. I'll stay behind to help clean up.

Examples of stay behind in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My sister would stay behind, with the kitten, in a hotel room that had been offered to her for free. — Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 30 June 2026

Rhymes for stay behind

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Browse Nearby Words

stay bar
stay behind
stay bolt
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Cite this Entry

“Stay behind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stay%20behind. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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