at bay

phrase

: in the position of being unable to move closer while attacking or trying to approach someone

—used with keep or hold

The soldiers kept the attackers at bay.

—often used figuratively

The doctors have been able to keep her illness at bay for several months.

Examples of at bay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Touring’s heated and ventilated leather seats and lumbar support helped keep exhaustion at bay. — Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Grant Holmes and a parade of relievers helped keep the Phillies mostly at bay heading into the middle innings, when Ozzie Albies gave Atlanta some breathing room with a two-run homer off Wheeler, pitching in relief. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

The clarity in the diction may suggest both a way of absorbing difficult emotion and a way of keeping it at bay. — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

This celestial shield keeps harmful solar wind, cosmic rays and radiation at bay, preventing the atmosphere from being stripped away. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for at bay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway