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Synonyms

stay the course

Idioms  

  1. Hold or persevere to the end, as in No, he's not resigning; he's going to stay the course. This metaphoric expression, alluding to a horse running an entire race, was first recorded in 1916.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Her work proves that when women stay the course and remain committed to their craft, they not only reach the finish line - they redefine it for others."

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

The lesson from chaotic times is to stay the course.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

California has vowed to stay the course on offshore wind despite the federal challenges.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

Washington should reinstate the dockage fees as soon as possible and stay the course toward maritime self-reliance.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 6, 2025

They say if it were not for Captain Smith insisting that they stay the course, they would be back in their comfortable homes in England by now.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.