stay behind
idiom
: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel, who first moved to New Orleans, would stay behind in the South, cleaning houses and helping raise White people’s children, along with her own.
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Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 19 July 2025
While his uncle Jacob Dutton is waiting for Spencer's arrival at the Livingston train station, Jack Dutton is told to stay behind at the family lodge and keep watch instead.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
All do so, apart from the titular madman, who has a mysterious reason to stay behind.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 June 2025
After weeks of investigation, police announced in December that Kobayashi had merely decided to stay behind in California in November and then traveled by bus to Mexico.
—Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stay behind
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Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 19 July 2025
While his uncle Jacob Dutton is waiting for Spencer's arrival at the Livingston train station, Jack Dutton is told to stay behind at the family lodge and keep watch instead.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
All do so, apart from the titular madman, who has a mysterious reason to stay behind.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 June 2025
After weeks of investigation, police announced in December that Kobayashi had merely decided to stay behind in California in November and then traveled by bus to Mexico.
—Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for stay behind
Cite this Entry
“Stay behind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stay%20behind. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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