What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
remained
Example
The old building remained standing despite the earthquake. [remained: verb]
Example
He remained silent throughout the entire meeting. [remained: past tense]
Example
The problem remained unresolved for weeks. [remained: past participle]
stay
Example
I'm going to stay at my friend's house for the weekend. [stay: verb]
Example
We booked a stay at a hotel near the beach. [stay: noun]
Example
Please stay here until I come back. [stay: imperative]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stay is more commonly used than remained in everyday language, especially in informal contexts. Remained is more formal and less common, often used in academic or professional writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between remained and stay?
Remained is more formal than stay and is often used in academic or professional writing. Stay is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.