stayed in place

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stayed in place" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that remains stationary or does not move from a specific location. Example: "Despite the strong winds, the tree stayed in place, firmly rooted in the ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Longanecker has stayed in place.

The New York Times

The crowd, religiously attentive, stayed in place.

The New Yorker

The piece stayed in place for months.

The New York Times - Arts

The sanctions stayed in place.

The New York Times

But these players stayed in place.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Santorum stayed in place, but the audience had changed.

The New York Times

When we opened that envelope, Christine's jaw stayed in place.

The New York Times

The pictures stayed in place on the page.

The New York Times - Books

The headband stayed in place, and I thought, beauty!

The Guardian - Opinion

As a modernizer, Abdullah often put only one step forward while the other stayed in place.

The New Yorker

So it would definitely benefit Tebow if McCoy stayed in place.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stayed in place" to clearly indicate that something or someone remained in a specific location or condition without moving or changing, especially when contrasting it with potential movement or change.

Common error

Avoid using "stayed in place" when the intended meaning is about a future or habitual action. For future scenarios use "will stay in place" and for habitual actions, use "stays in place" or "remains in place".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stayed in place" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often serving as the predicate of a sentence. It describes the action of something or someone remaining in a specific location or condition, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stayed in place" is a versatile verb phrase widely used to denote the act of remaining in a specific location or condition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent appearance across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Scientific domains. While alternatives like "remained stationary" and "held its position" offer nuanced variations, "stayed in place" serves as a clear and accessible means of conveying stability and persistence. When writing, ensure the tense aligns with the intended meaning, avoiding its use for future or habitual actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained stationary

Focuses on the lack of movement, emphasizing stillness.

held its position

Implies resistance against a force that might cause displacement.

did not budge

Emphasizes a strong resistance to movement, suggesting effort was made to displace it.

stood firm

Suggests resilience and stability in maintaining its location or state.

remained unmoved

Highlights the lack of physical or emotional shift.

kept its station

Formal, indicating a designated or assigned location was maintained.

stayed put

Informal, emphasizing a decision to remain in the current location.

was not displaced

Passive voice, focusing on the absence of external force causing movement.

maintained its status

Focuses on retaining a particular state or condition rather than a physical location.

abided in place

More formal and somewhat archaic, suggesting a continued presence or adherence to a location.

FAQs

How can I use "stayed in place" in a sentence?

The phrase "stayed in place" indicates that something or someone remained in a specific position or condition. For instance, "Despite the earthquake, the building "stayed in place"" or "The policy "stayed in place" despite the opposition's efforts".

What are some alternatives to "stayed in place"?

You can use alternatives like "remained stationary", "held its position", or "did not budge depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "staying in place" instead of "stayed in place"?

The correct form depends on the context. "Staying in place" is the present participle, used in continuous tenses (e.g., "The equipment is staying in place"). "Stayed in place" is the past tense, used for completed actions (e.g., "The equipment "stayed in place" during the storm").

What's the difference between "remained in place" and "stayed in place"?

While semantically similar, "remained in place" often suggests a more formal or enduring state, whereas "stayed in place" can be used in more casual contexts. "Remained in place" emphasizes a continuation of a prior condition.