You’re sitting there with a lukewarm coffee, staring at four little empty white boxes. The clue says "Stays with," and you've already tried about five different words in your head that don't fit the crossing letters. It’s frustrating. Honestly, it’s one of those clues that feels like a trick because the word "stays" has about a dozen different meanings in the English language depending on whether you’re talking about a 19th-century corset, a legal maneuver, or just hanging out at a hotel.
Getting stuck on a stays with crossword clue is a rite of passage for anyone who picks up the New York Times or the LA Times crossword. Most people immediately think of a physical location or a duration of time. But crossword constructors? They love to play with the parts of speech. Sometimes "stays" isn't a verb at all. Sometimes it’s a noun. Sometimes it refers to something so obscure that you’d need a degree in nautical history to get it on the first try.
The Most Common Answers for Stays With
Let's cut to the chase. If you are staring at a grid right now, the answer is probably ABIDES.
"Abides" is the classic, high-brow way of saying someone stays with or remains loyal to something. Think of the phrase "abide by the rules." It shows up in puzzles constantly because it has a great vowel-to-consonant ratio. It’s a flexible word. But it isn't the only one. Depending on the length of the space you’re trying to fill, you might be looking at STOPS, REMAINS, or even KEEPS.
If the clue is looking for a more literal, physical "staying with" someone, you might see COHABITS. That’s a long one, usually reserved for Sunday puzzles or late-week grids where the difficulty spikes. Then there is ADHERES. If you stay with a plan, you adhere to it. Crossword creators like Will Shortz or Joel Fagliano love these types of synonyms because they require you to shift your perspective from the physical world to the conceptual one.
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Wait, there's more. Don't forget CLEAVES. This is one of those "contronyms"—words that can mean their own opposite. You can cleave something apart, or you can cleave to something (stay with it). It’s a favorite for trickier Saturday puzzles.
Why Crossword Clues Use "Stays" So Often
Language is weird. "Stays" is a perfect example of why English is a nightmare to learn but a playground for puzzle makers.
In a nautical context, "stays" are ropes or cables used to support a mast. If a clue mentions a ship or a schooner, you aren't looking for a verb; you're looking for a piece of rigging. If the clue is "Stays with, in court," you’re likely looking for DEFERS or ABEYANCE. The legal system loves its Latin-rooted terminology, and crosswords mirror that obsession.
The Power of the Suffix
Often, the difficulty of a stays with crossword clue comes down to the tense. Is it "Stays with" or "Stayed with"? The difference between an "S" and an "ED" at the end can break your entire bottom-right quadrant.
- STICKS – Often used when the answer is STICKS BY or STICKS TO.
- KEEPS – As in "keeps company with."
- LOGES – (Rare, but it happens) referring to staying in a specific type of box seat or lodging.
- LASTS – When referring to how long a certain feeling or physical object stays with you.
If you’re looking at a three-letter word, try HAS. "He stays with/has the lead." It’s a bit of a stretch, but in the world of competitive puzzling, those short connectors are the glue that holds the theme together.
Understanding the "Crosswordese" Behind the Clue
There is a specific dialect of English that only exists inside the 15x15 grid. We call it "Crosswordese." It involves words that we almost never use in real conversation but are essential for filling tight spaces in a puzzle.
Take the word ASTAY. You will probably never say this word out loud in your entire life. However, in a crossword, it’s a perfectly valid answer for a clue about a ship’s anchor or a specific type of "staying."
Then you have EDICTS or ESTOPS. These show up when "stays" is used in a legal or formal sense. Estop is a classic. It’s a legal term meaning to prevent or bar. If a court "stays" a proceeding, it might be an ESTOPPEL. If you see a five-letter word and the clue involves law, ESTOP is a very safe bet.
How to Solve the Clue When You're Stuck
Stop looking at the word "stays." Seriously. Close your eyes and think of every possible context for that word.
Is it a corset? In the 18th century, "stays" were the stiffened pieces of a bodice. So, if the clue is "Stays with a dress," the answer might be LACING or BONES.
Is it a vacation? "Stays with" could lead to LODGES or ROOMS.
The trick is to look at the "crosses"—the words that intersect with your mystery word. If you have a 'B' and an 'I', you’re almost certainly looking at ABIDES. If you have an 'H', maybe it’s ADHERES.
Crosswords are essentially a game of pattern recognition mixed with a giant trivia contest. The "stays with" clue is a filler. It’s there to help the constructor bridge two more interesting, themed long-form answers. Because it’s a filler, it usually relies on these common synonyms.
The Nuance of Puzzle Difficulty
Monday puzzles are straightforward. The stays with crossword clue on a Monday will likely be ABIDES or STICKS. Simple.
By Wednesday, the constructor starts getting cute. They might use a pun.
By Saturday, the clue might be "Stays with the job?" and the answer could be TENURE. That’s not a direct synonym, but it fits the concept of staying with something. This is where most casual solvers get tripped up. They are looking for a dictionary definition, but the Saturday puzzle is looking for a lateral association.
You also have to consider the "indicator." If there is a question mark at the end of the clue—like "Stays with?"—that is universal crossword code for "I am making a pun or being a smart-aleck." It means the answer is not what it seems. It might be MOTELS (places where one stays) or even STARCH (something that makes a shirt "stay" crisp).
Real Examples from Famous Puzzles
Looking at the archives of the New York Times, the clue "Stays with" has appeared hundreds of times.
- NYT 2021: The answer was ABIDES.
- Universal Crossword 2023: The answer was STICKSBY.
- Wall Street Journal 2022: The answer was ADHERESTO.
Notice how the length changes. Sometimes the "with" part of the clue is actually part of the answer string (a phrasal verb), and sometimes the "with" is just there to point you toward the synonym.
If the boxes provided are more than 5 or 6, you are likely looking for a two-word phrase. STICKS TO, WAITS ON, KEEPS TO. If the boxes are fewer than 5, you're in the realm of HAS, BETS (as in "stays with the hand" in poker), or SITS.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Puzzle
Next time you see this clue, don't just guess. Use a process of elimination that experts use:
Check the Tense and Number
Does the clue say "Stay with" (plural/infinitive) or "Stays with" (singular)? If it's "stays," your answer almost certainly ends in an 'S' or is a third-person singular verb like "abides."
Look for Nautical or Fashion Context
Is there anything else in the puzzle related to the ocean or history? If so, think of "stays" as a noun (ropes or corset parts).
Count the Letters First
- 4 letters: HAS, SITS, LOGS
- 5 letters: ABIDE, STOPS, KEEPS, ESTOP
- 6 letters: ABIDES, ADHERE, CLEAVE
- 7 letters: ADHERES, REMAINS
- 8 letters: STICKSBY, COHABITS
The "In" Trick
If the clue is "Stays with in," and you have six letters, the answer is often RESIDES. You reside in a place; you stay with it.
Crosswords are supposed to be a challenge, but they shouldn't be impossible. The "stays with" clue is a classic because it forces you to cycle through different meanings of a very simple word. It’s a reminder that even the most basic parts of our vocabulary have layers.
Once you fill in those four or five boxes, the rest of the corner usually falls into place. You'll get that little hit of dopamine, the coffee will taste a bit better, and you can move on to the next frustratingly vague clue the constructor threw your way.
Final Checklist for Solving
- Identify if the clue is a verb or a noun.
- Look for a question mark (pun alert!).
- Check for "Crosswordese" like Astay or Estop.
- Fill in the crossing letters (the "crosses") before committing to a word.
- Consider if "stays" refers to a physical object (corset, ship rigging, legal hold).
If you’re really stuck, take a break. Your brain often works on these patterns in the background. You’ll come back ten minutes later, look at the grid, and "ABIDES" will practically jump off the page at you. That’s the magic of the puzzle. It’s not just about what you know; it’s about how you shift your perspective to match the person who wrote the clues.