Stay vs. Leave — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 2, 2024
Stay involves remaining in the same place or condition, whereas leave means to go away or depart from a place or situation.
Difference Between Stay and Leave
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Stay is generally used to indicate remaining in a specific location or maintaining a particular state, showing a choice of constancy. On the other hand, leave suggests a movement away from a location or a change in state, often implying a form of departure or abandonment.
Stay can also imply a pause or halt in an activity, suggesting continuity or persistence within a scenario or engagement. Whereas leave often involves the idea of a permanent or temporary discontinuation of an activity, relationship, or engagement.
In emotional or relational contexts, to stay means to continue to be present or involved with people or situations. On the other hand, to leave can refer to ending involvement or moving away from relationships or commitments, often carrying emotional weight.
In legal or formal contexts, stay can mean to suspend or stop a judicial proceeding or the enforcement of an order. Whereas leave in such contexts might be used to denote permission granted to be absent, such as from a job or duty.
Stay can also relate to resisting change or maintaining current conditions against challenges. Conversely, leave often involves embracing change, whether it's leaving a job, relocating, or ending a relationship, thus highlighting a readiness to face new experiences.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To remain in the same place or condition.
To go away from a place or situation.
Usage in Context
Often implies constancy or inaction.
Suggests movement or change.
Emotional Connotation
Can suggest stability or commitment.
Often implies detachment or abandonment.
Legal Usage
Suspension of a judicial proceeding.
Permission granted to be absent from duty.
Change Orientation
Associated with maintaining the status quo.
Associated with seeking or embracing change.
Compare with Definitions
Stay
Continue in the same state.
You should stay calm in emergencies.
Leave
Change from previous condition.
Leave your worries behind and start afresh.
Stay
Persist in an activity.
He chose to stay in the competition despite the challenges.
Leave
Depart from a place.
He will leave for New York tomorrow.
Stay
Remain in the same place.
She decided to stay at home during the storm.
Leave
Cease or abandon.
She decided to leave her job and start a business.
Stay
Resist change or departure.
They stayed their ground during the negotiation.
Leave
Emotional departure.
Leaving the old house was harder than expected.
Stay
Suspend judicial proceedings.
The judge decided to stay the execution of the sentence.
Leave
Permit absence.
He took leave from work for his health.
Stay
To continue to be in a place or condition
Stay home.
Stay calm.
Leave
Go away from
The England team left for Pakistan on Monday
We were almost the last to leave
She left London on June 6
Stay
To remain or sojourn as a guest or lodger
Stayed at a motel.
Leave
Allow or cause to remain
The parts he disliked he would alter and the parts he didn't dislike he'd leave
Stay
To linger or wait in order to do or experience something
We stayed to watch the final minutes of the game.
Leave
Cause (someone or something) to be in a particular state or position
I'll leave the door open
He'll leave you in no doubt about what he thinks
The children were left with feelings of loss
Stay
To continue or persist in an action or activity
Stayed with the original plan.
Stayed in college.
Leave
(of a plant) put out new leaves
Trees leaved, wild flowers burst in profusion on the far side of the lake
Stay
To keep up in a race or contest
Tried to stay with the lead runner.
Leave
(in snooker, croquet, and other games) the position in which a player leaves the balls for the next player.
Stay
(Games) To meet a bet in poker without raising it.
Leave
Time when one has permission to be absent from work or from duty in the armed forces
Joe was home on leave
Maternity leave
Stay
(Archaic) To stop moving or stop doing something.
Leave
Permission
Leave from the court to commence an action
Stay
To remain during
Stayed the week with my parents.
Stayed the duration of the game.
Leave
To go out of or away from
Not allowed to leave the room.
Stay
To stop or restrain; check
Doubt stayed his hand.
Leave
To go without taking or removing
Left my book on the bus.
Stay
To suspend by legal order the implementation of (a planned action), especially pending further proceedings
Stay a prisoner's execution.
Leave
To omit or exclude
Left out the funniest part of the story.
Stay
To satisfy or appease temporarily
Stayed his anger.
Leave
To have as a result, consequence, or remainder
The car left a trail of exhaust fumes. Two from eight leaves six.
Stay
(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).
Leave
To cause or allow to be or remain in a specified state
Left the lights on.
Stay
To brace, support, or prop up
The tower is stayed with cables.
Leave
To have remaining after death
Left a young son.
Stay
To put (a ship) on the opposite tack or to come about.
Leave
To bequeath
Left her money to charity.
Stay
A brief period of residence or visiting.
Leave
To give over to another to control or act on
Leave all the details to us.
Stay
The order by which a planned action is stayed.
Leave
To abandon or forsake
Leave home.
Left her husband.
Stay
The consequence of such an order.
Leave
To remove oneself from association with or participation in
Left the navy for civilian life.
Stay
The act of halting; check.
Leave
To give or deposit, as for use or information, upon one's departure or in one's absence
He left a note for you. Leave your name and address.
Stay
The act of coming to a halt.
Leave
To cause or permit to be or remain
Left myself plenty of time.
Stay
A support or brace.
Leave
(Nonstandard) To allow or permit; let.
Stay
A strip of bone, plastic, or metal, used to stiffen a garment or part, such as a corset or shirt collar.
Leave
To set out or depart; go
When can you leave?.
Stay
Stays A corset.
Leave
To put forth foliage; leaf.
Stay
(Nautical) A heavy rope or cable, usually of wire, used as a brace or support for a mast or spar.
Leave
Permission to do something.
Stay
A rope used to steady, guide, or brace.
Leave
An act of departing; a farewell
Took leave of her with a heavy heart.
Stay
(transitive) To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
Leave
See leave of absence.
Stay
(transitive) To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
Leave
To have a consequence or remnant.
Stay
To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
Leave
(transitive) To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (something) entirely.
I left my car at home and took a bus to work.
The ants did not leave so much as a crumb of bread.
There's not much food left. We'd better go to the shops.
Stay
To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
Leave
To cause, to result in.
The lightning left her dazzled for several minutes.
Infantile paralysis left him lame for the rest of his life.
She left disappointed.
Stay
To cause to cease; to put an end to.
Leave
(transitive) To put; to place; to deposit; to deliver, with a sense of withdrawing oneself.
Leave your hat in the hall.
We should leave the legal matters to lawyers.
I left my sewing and went to the window to watch the falling snow.
Stay
To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
The governor stayed the execution until the appeal could be heard.
Leave
To depart; to separate from.
Stay
(transitive) To hold the attention of. en
Leave
To let be or do without interference.
I left him to his reflections.
I leave my hearers to judge.
Stay
To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
Leave
(transitive) To depart from; to end one's connection or affiliation with.
I left the country and I left my wife.
Stay
To wait for; await.
Leave
(transitive) To end one's membership in (a group); to terminate one's affiliation with (an organization); to stop participating in (a project).
I left the band.
Stay
To remain for the purpose of; to stay to take part in or be present at (a meal, ceremony etc.).
Leave
(intransitive) To depart; to go away from a certain place or state.
I think you'd better leave.
Stay
To rest; depend; rely.
Leave
To transfer something.
Stay
To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
Leave
(transitive) To transfer possession of after death.
When my father died, he left me the house.
Stay
To come to an end; cease.
That day the storm stayed.
Leave
(transitive) To give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit.
I'll leave the car in the station so you can pick it up there.
Stay
To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
Leave
(transitive) To transfer responsibility or attention of (something) (to someone); to stop being concerned with.
Can't we just leave this to the experts?
Stay
To make a stand; to stand firm.
Leave
To remain (behind); to stay.
Stay
(intransitive) To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end; to show staying power.
That horse stays well.
Leave
To stop, desist from; to "leave off" (+ noun / gerund).
Stay
(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.
Leave
(transitive) To give leave to; allow; permit; let; grant.
We were not left go to the beach after school except on a weekend.
Stay
To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
Leave
To produce leaves or foliage.
Stay
To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.
Leave
(obsolete) To raise; to levy.
Stay
To continue to have a particular quality.
Wear gloves so your hands stay warm.
Leave
(cricket) The action of the batsman not attempting to play at the ball.
Stay
To live; reside
Hey, where do you stay at?
Leave
(billiards) The arrangement of balls in play that remains after a shot is made (which determines whether the next shooter — who may be either the same player, or an opponent — has good options, or only poor ones).
Stay
To brace or support with a stay or stays
Stay a mast
Leave
Permission to be absent; time away from one's work.
I've been given three weeks' leave by my boss.
Stay
To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.
Leave
Permission.
Might I beg leave to accompany you?
The applicant now seeks leave to appeal and, if leave be granted, to appeal against these sentences.
Stay
To tack; put on the other tack.
To stay ship
Leave
(dated) Farewell, departure.
I took my leave of the gentleman without a backward glance.
Stay
To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship.
Leave
To send out leaves; to leaf; - often with out.
Stay
Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time.
I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii.
Leave
To raise; to levy.
An army strong she leaved.
Stay
(legal) A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
The governor granted a stay of execution.
Leave
To withdraw one's self from; to go away from; to depart from; as, to leave the house.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.
Stay
(archaic) A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.
Stand at a stay
Leave
To let remain unremoved or undone; to let stay or continue, in distinction from what is removed or changed.
If grape gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes ?
These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Besides it leaveth a suspicion, as if more might be said than is expressed.
Stay
A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
Leave
To cease from; to desist from; to abstain from.
Now leave complaining and begin your tea.
Stay
(nautical) A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.
Leave
To desert; to abandon; to forsake; hence, to give up; to relinquish.
Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
The heresies that men do leave.
Stay
Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
Leave
To let be or do without interference; as, I left him to his reflections; I leave my hearers to judge.
I will leave you now to your gossiplike humor.
Stay
(obsolete) Hindrance; let; check.
Leave
To have remaining at death; hence, to bequeath; as, he left a large estate; he left a good name; he left a legacy to his niece.
Stay
A prop; a support.
Leave
To cause to be; - followed by an adjective or adverb describing a state or condition; as, the losses due to fire leave me penniless; The cost of defending himself left Bill Clinton with a mountain of lawyers' bills.
Stay
A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.
Where are the stays for my collar?
Leave
To depart; to set out.
By the time I left for Scotland.
Stay
(in the plural) A corset.
Leave
To cease; to desist; to leave off.
Leave off, and for another summons wait.
Stay
(archaic) A fastening for a garment; a hook; a clasp; anything to hang another thing on.
Leave
Liberty granted by which restraint or illegality is removed; permission; allowance; license.
David earnestly asked leave of me.
No friend has leave to bear away the dead.
Stay
(nautical) A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.
Leave
The act of leaving or departing; a formal parting; a leaving; farewell; adieu; - used chiefly in the phrase, to take leave, i. e., literally, to take permission to go.
A double blessing is a'double grace;Occasion smiles upon a second leave.
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren.
Stay
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.
Leave
The period of time during which you are absent from work or duty;
A ten day's leave to visit his mother
Stay
The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.
Leave
Permission to do something;
She was granted leave to speak
Stay
Steep; ascending.
Leave
The act of departing politely;
He disliked long farewells
He took his leave
Parting is such sweet sorrow
Stay
(of a roof) Steeply pitched.
Leave
Go away from a place;
At what time does your train leave?
She didn't leave until midnight
The ship leaves at midnight
Stay
Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.
Leave
Go and leave behind, either intentionally or by neglect or forgetfulness;
She left a mess when she moved out
His good luck finally left him
Her husband left her after 20 years of marriage
She wept thinking she had been left behind
Stay
Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.
Leave
Act or be so as to become in a specified state;
The inflation left them penniless
The president's remarks left us speechless
Stay
Steeply.
Leave
Leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking;
Leave it as is
Leave the young fawn alone
Leave the flowers that you see in the park behind
Stay
A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to the vessel's side are called backstays. See Illust. of Ship.
Leave
Move out of or depart from;
Leave the room
The fugitive has left the country
Stay
That which serves as a prop; a support.
Trees serve as so many stays for their vines.
Lord Liverpool is the single stay of this ministry.
Leave
Make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain;
This leaves no room for improvement
The evidence allows only one conclusion
Allow for mistakes
Leave lots of time for the trip
This procedure provides for lots of leeway
Stay
A corset stiffened with whalebone or other material, worn by women, and rarely by men.
How the strait stays the slender waist constrain.
Leave
Remove oneself from an association with or participation in;
She wants to leave
The teenager left home
She left her position with the Red Cross
He left the Senate after two terms
After 20 years with the same company, she pulled up stakes
Stay
Continuance in a place; abode for a space of time; sojourn; as, you make a short stay in this city.
Make haste, and leave thy business and thy care;No mortal interest can be worth thy stay.
Embrace the hero and his stay implore.
Leave
Put into the care or protection of someone;
He left the decision to his deputy
Leave your child the nurse's care
Stay
Cessation of motion or progression; stand; stop.
Made of sphere metal, never to decayUntil his revolution was at stay.
Affairs of state seemed rather to stand at a stay.
Leave
Leave or give by will after one's death;
My aunt bequeathed me all her jewelry
My grandfather left me his entire estate
Stay
Hindrance; let; check.
They were able to read good authors without any stay, if the book were not false.
Leave
Have left or have as a remainder;
That left the four of us
19 minus 8 leaves 11
Stay
Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
The wisdom, stay, and moderation of the king.
With prudent stay he long deferredThe rough contention.
Leave
Be survived by after one's death;
He left six children
At her death, she left behind her husband and 11 cats
Stay
Strictly, a part in tension to hold the parts together, or stiffen them.
Leave
Tell or deposit (information) knowledge;
Give a secret to the Russians
Leave your name and address here
Stay
To stop from motion or falling; to prop; to fix firmly; to hold up; to support.
Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side.
Sallows and reeds . . . for vineyards useful foundTo stay thy vines.
Leave
Leave behind unintentionally;
I forgot my umbrella in the restaurant
I left my keys inside the car and locked the doors
Stay
To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
He has devoured a whole loaf of bread and butter, and it has not staid his stomach for a minute.
Stay
To bear up under; to endure; to support; to resist successfully.
She will not stay the siege of loving terms,Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes.
Stay
To hold from proceeding; to withhold; to restrain; to stop; to hold.
Him backward overthrew and down him stayedWith their rude hands and grisly grapplement.
All that may stay their minds from thinking that true which they heartily wish were false.
Stay
To hinder; to delay; to detain; to keep back.
Your ships are stayed at Venice.
This business staid me in London almost a week.
I was willing to stay my reader on an argument that appeared to me new.
Stay
To remain for the purpose of; to wait for.
Stay
To cause to cease; to put an end to.
Stay your strife.
For flattering planets seemed to sayThis child should ills of ages stay.
Stay
To fasten or secure with stays; as, to stay a flat sheet in a steam boiler.
Stay
To tack, as a vessel, so that the other side of the vessel shall be presented to the wind.
Stay
To remain; to continue in a place; to abide fixed for a space of time; to stop; to stand still.
She would command the hasty sun to stay.
Stay, I command you; stay and hear me first.
I stay a little longer, as one staysTo cover up the embers that still burn.
Stay
To continue in a state.
The flames augment, and stayAt their full height, then languish to decay.
Stay
To wait; to attend; to forbear to act.
I 'll tell thee all my whole deviceWhen I am in my coach, which stays for us.
The father can not stay any longer for the fortune.
Stay
To dwell; to tarry; to linger.
I must stay a little on one action.
Stay
To rest; to depend; to rely; to stand; to insist.
I stay here on my bond.
Ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon.
Stay
To come to an end; to cease; as, that day the storm stayed.
Here my commission stays.
Stay
To hold out in a race or other contest; as, a horse stays well.
Stay
To change tack, as a ship.
Stay
Continuing or remaining in a place or state;
They had a nice stay in Paris
A lengthy hospital stay
A four-month stay in bankruptcy court
Stay
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 Court
Stay
The state of inactivity following an interruption;
The negotiations were in arrest
Held them in check
During the halt he got some lunch
The momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow
He spent the entire stop in his seat
Stay
(nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar
Stay
A thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)
Stay
Stay the same; remain in a certain state;
The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it
Rest assured
Stay alone
He remained unmoved by her tears
The bad weather continued for another week
Stay
Stay put (in a certain place);
We are staying in Detroit; we are not moving to Cincinnati
Stay put in the corner here!
Stick around and you will learn something!
Stay
Dwell;
You can stay with me while you are in town
Stay a bit longer--the day is still young
Stay
Continue in a place, position, or situation;
After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser
Stay with me, please
Despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year
She continued as deputy mayor for another year
Stay
Remain behind;
I had to stay at home and watch the children
Stay
Stay behind;
The smell stayed in the room
The hostility remained long after they made up
Stay
A trial of endurance;
Ride out the storm
Stay
Stop a judicial process;
The judge stayed the execution order
Stay
Fasten with stays
Stay
Overcome or allay;
Quell my hunger
Common Curiosities
What does "stay" imply in a conversation?
In conversation, "stay" often suggests maintaining the current course of action or remaining in a certain state or location.
What does "leave" mean in terms of employment?
In terms of employment, "leave" often refers to taking time away from work, which could be due to various reasons like health or vacation.
How do "stay" and "leave" differ in legal terms?
In legal terms, "stay" usually refers to pausing or stopping legal proceedings, whereas "leave" refers to obtaining permission to be absent, like from duties or responsibilities.
Is "leave" always negative?
No, "leave" is not always negative; it can also signify positive changes like growth, exploration, and new opportunities.
What is the emotional impact of choosing to "stay" vs. "leave"?
Choosing to "stay" can provide a sense of security and stability, reinforcing commitment and continuity, while choosing to "leave" often involves facing uncertainties, which can be either liberating or stressful depending on the context.
How do "stay" and "leave" relate to decisions in personal relationships?
In personal relationships, "stay" often involves commitment and working through difficulties, while "leave" might indicate breaking off the relationship or distancing oneself from problematic situations.
How are "stay" and "leave" used in military contexts?
In military contexts, "stay" can refer to remaining stationed at a particular location or on duty, while "leave" refers to the authorized absence from duty, typically for personal time away from the service.
Can "stay" imply resistance?
Yes, "stay" can imply resistance, especially in contexts where maintaining the status quo or not yielding under pressure is emphasized.
How do "stay" and "leave" operate in financial contexts?
In financial contexts, "stay" might involve maintaining an investment position despite market volatility, whereas "leave" could mean liquidating positions or exiting investments due to changing circumstances.
What are some synonyms for "stay" and "leave"?
Synonyms for "stay" include remain, linger, abide, and continue; for "leave," they include depart, exit, abandon, and withdraw.
Can "stay" be used in technology or software contexts?
Yes, in technology or software, "stay" can refer to maintaining current settings or versions without upgrading or changing them.
What role do "stay" and "leave" play in educational settings?
In educational settings, "stay" can refer to continuing in a specific course or school, while "leave" could mean dropping out or transferring to another institution.
What legal implications does "leave" have in family law?
In family law, "leave" can refer to legally granted absence from home, such as in cases of separation or divorce, often involving custody and visitation rights.
Does "stay" have a specific meaning in healthcare?
In healthcare, "stay" often refers to a patient remaining in a hospital for ongoing treatment, as opposed to being discharged or transferred.
Are there idiomatic expressions involving "stay" and "leave"?
Yes, idiomatic expressions include "stay the course" meaning to continue with a plan despite difficulties, and "take it or leave it" implying a final offer without room for negotiation.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
