stay behind
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle behind
Meanings
Remain in a place after others have left
Why “behind”? Everyone else moves on. What stays behind is left there.
“She stayed behind to lock up.”
“Omar stayed behind to clean the classroom.”
Remain at school after class as a punishment
“He had to stay behind for talking.”
“Nina stayed behind for throwing paper.”
Don't confuse with
Stay behind means remain in a place after others have left. Stay by means continue to support or remain near someone.
Test yourself
“She stayed behind to lock up.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
stay by
A contrast learners often mix up
Continue to support or remain near someone
fall behind
Same behind pattern: leftover
Fail to keep pace with others; Of an item, be left forgotten or detached from a group; Of a payment, become late or owed
hold behind
Same behind pattern: leftover
Keep someone or something back from going forward
leave behind
Same behind pattern: leftover
Forget or fail to take something with you when you go; Surpass someone in development or achievement; Depart from someone, ending a relationship or association
put behind
Same behind pattern: leftover
Treat a difficult experience as no longer relevant
remain behind
Same behind pattern: leftover
Stay in place when others move on
stay ahead
Same base verb: stay
Remain in a leading position
stay around
Same base verb: stay
Remain in the area
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