The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word REMAIN
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
R
E
M
A
I
N
More clues leading to the result REMAIN
- Hesitation about sea? Stay behind
- About to go to sea or stop behind?
- Soldiers wanting chief to hang on
- What almost half of us wanted to do on the ocean
- Stop having mother in control
- Stay on – most important
- Stay on channel
- Stand with a miner demanding change
- Stay with mother in control
- Stay with me up in shower
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Stay" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case stay = remain.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does REMAIN mean?
REMAIN noun- (chiefly in the plural) That which is left; relic; remainder.
- (in the plural) That which is left of a human being after the life is gone; relics; a dead body.
- Posthumous works or productions, especially literary works.
- State of remaining; stay.
- To stay behind while others withdraw; to be left after others have been removed or destroyed; to be left after a number or quantity has been subtracted or cut off; to be left as not included or comprised.
- To continue unchanged in place, form, or condition, or undiminished in quantity; to abide; to stay; to endure; to last.
- To await; to be left to.
- To continue in a state of being.