at bay
idiom
: in the position of being unable to move closer while attacking or trying to approach someone
—used with keep or hold
The soldiers kept the attackers at bay.
—often used figurativelyThe doctors have been able to keep her illness at bay for several months.
Examples of at bay in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If topical treatments aren’t enough to keep symptoms at bay, or if the eczema is particularly severe, there are oral medicines and injectable biologics that can help modulate the immune system’s response to eczema, says Gordon.
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Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Gardeners and landscapers alike use them to keep unwanted plants at bay without disturbing their beloved greenery.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2025
Ross also forced Sterns to invent a medication that would keep Ross' life-threatening heart condition at bay.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
And that readiness keeps allies assured and adversaries at bay.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2025
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Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Gardeners and landscapers alike use them to keep unwanted plants at bay without disturbing their beloved greenery.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2025
Ross also forced Sterns to invent a medication that would keep Ross' life-threatening heart condition at bay.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
And that readiness keeps allies assured and adversaries at bay.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for at bay
Dictionary Entries Near at bay
Cite this Entry
“At bay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20bay. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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