as in to fasten
to attach (a rope) to something so that it is secure
The climber belayed the rope.
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Recent Examples of belay
The ship’s resting place deep underwater helped preserve key features, like bow clamps and belaying pins, by limiting the growth of invasive quagga mussels, as noted in the release.
—
Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Drinking should happen after you’re done belaying for the day.
—Outside Editors, Outside Online, 3 July 2025
So the climbers who found the elk helped rig him up to belay the creature to the base of the wall, officials said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2025
Born as a design concept to give climbers a shoe to wear for quick access to the crag, comfort when belaying and recovery after a climb, the Kragg fills a need.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belay
Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Drinking should happen after you’re done belaying for the day.
—Outside Editors, Outside Online, 3 July 2025
So the climbers who found the elk helped rig him up to belay the creature to the base of the wall, officials said.
—Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2025
Born as a design concept to give climbers a shoe to wear for quick access to the crag, comfort when belaying and recovery after a climb, the Kragg fills a need.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for belay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belay
Verb
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At the moment of the attack, the patrol was monitoring a black rhino and tracking the animal through a GPS device fastened to its ankle.—
Ryan Brennan
April 27,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
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At the moment of the attack, the patrol was monitoring a black rhino through a GPS device fastened to the animal’s ankle.—
Ryan Brennan
April 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bregman wasn’t fazed by it, slugging a game-tying home run in the eighth inning Friday for his first marquee moment in a Cubs uniform.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Up next The Hawks head to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday for Game 5 with the series tied 2-2.—
Lauren Williams,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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It was not known which way Woods was leaning before his SUV clipped the back of a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck on a residential road in Florida, turning his vehicle on its side.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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It was not known which way Woods was leaning when his SUV clipped the back of a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck on a residential road in Florida, turning his SUV on its side.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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City will have one eye on clinching the FA Cup trophy for the third time in eight years, while Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clashes with Atletico Madrid will take plenty out of them physically and mentally.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Martinez had a three-run double and drove in four runs overall Friday as Cypress beat Foothill, 8-5, to clinch at least a share of the Crestview League championship.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Arsenal’s idea is to use this overload to pin Willock and find Eze before Murphy can get out to close him down.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Lawrence can simply pin his ears back, get off the ball with a jetpack on and rush without losing momentum.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The two of them clench in the car, waiting to be let through the border.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
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May watched, jaw clenched, arms crossed, eyes glassy.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Motorsports sanctioning bodies and manufacturers continually work to improve safety measures, to better protect competitors, spectators, track personnel and others every time racers strap on their helmets, buckle their safety belts, take to the track and compete.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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In winter, the mountains transform into one of Japan's top ski destinations, with dozens of resorts accessible within minutes of bullet train stations; non-skiers can strap on traditional Japanese snowshoes and sip hot tea in the snowy forest.—
Iona Brannon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belay. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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