stay away

phrasal verb

stayed away; staying away; stays away
: to not go near someone or something : avoid
I know I shouldn't go there, but it's hard to stay away.
usually + from
Stay away from my girlfriend!
He usually stays away from large crowds.
I try to stay away from caffeine.

Examples of stay away in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Bonus: Deer and rabbits usually stay away from these daisy-like flowers, but birds, butterflies, and bees love them. Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2025 Even after so many years, AC/DC never stays away from the No. 1 spot on a Billboard chart for very long. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 Sutton Stracke has a daughter and two sons with her ex-husband, Christian Stracke Comments Sutton Stracke is used to sharing her life in the spotlight, but her three children have mainly stayed away from the public eye. Hoda Mallone, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025 At the request of Morrison, the scribe from one of the country’s most influential weeklies was asked to stay away from Albany. Elon Green, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stay away

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stay away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stay%20away. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!