1 A2 informal
To remain at home or inside a building rather than going out
"It's raining heavily, so I think I'll just stay in and watch a film."
stay in
A2 informal intransitive
To remain at home or inside, rather than going out
In plain English
To not go out; to stay at home or inside
What does "stay in" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 idiomatic informal
(UK schools) To be kept inside during break or lunchtime as a punishment
"He had to stay in at lunch because he hadn't finished his homework."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To stay (remain) in — inside a building or at home
Actually means
To not go out; to stay at home or inside
Usage tip
Very common in British and American English. The opposite is 'go out'. Often used when explaining plans for an evening. Can also mean a student is kept inside at break time as a punishment (UK school usage).
Words that pair with "stay in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tonight evening weekend weather home break
How to conjugate "stay in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
stay in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stays in
he/she/it
Past simple
stayed in
yesterday
Past participle
stayed in
have + pp
-ing form
staying in
continuous
Hear "stay in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "stay in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "stay in"
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Keep exploring
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