Phrase guide

stay up

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see stay, up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • These trousers are too big around the waist. They won't stay up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To remain awake; to not go to bed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • My plane leaves at 6:00 in the morning, so I plan to stay up until then and sleep on the plane.
  • She stayed up past her bedtime.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To maintain an erection.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic, intransitive

Examples

  • He told his lover he has a problem staying up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

not go to bed

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Don't stay up so late--you have to go to work tomorrow
  • We sat up all night to watch the election

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sit up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wake

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: سَهَر (sahar) — remain awake
  • Chinese Mandarin: 熬夜 (áoyè) — remain awake
  • Dutch: opblijven — remain awake
  • Finnish: valvoa — remain awake
  • German: aufbleiben — remain awake
  • German: durchmachen — remain awake
  • Ingrian: valvoa — remain awake
  • Korean: 새우다 (sae'uda) — remain awake
  • Polish: czuwać — remain awake
  • Russian: бо́дрствовать (bódrstvovatʹ) — remain awake
  • Spanish: quedarse despierto — remain awake
  • Spanish: empalmar — remain awake
  • Spanish: reenganchar — remain awake
  • Welsh: eistedd i fyny — remain awake
  • Chinese Mandarin: 勃起 (bóqǐ) — maintain an erection
  • Finnish: ylläpitää erektiota — maintain an erection