Outstayed

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To have exceeded the expected length of residence or presence in a location To have remained in a place longer than what was considered proper or normal To have stayed in an area longer than was deemed appropriate or acceptable
2. To stay in a place longer than is considered suitable or timely
3. To continue to be present in a location past a reasonable or expected moment

Etymology: This is a straightforward formation: "outstayed" is the past tense and past participle of "outstay", built from the prefix "out-" and the verb "stay". The prefix traces back through Old English "ūt", meaning "outside" or "away", to a Proto-Germanic root shared by many English words of motion and position. "Stay" descends from the same tradition as the English verb for remaining in place, so the compound simply combines "remaining" with "beyond". The pattern is productive: English has long attached "out-" to verbs to mean "surpass" or "do more than", as in "outrun", "outlive" and "outwit". Here the sense is "to stay longer than someone else, or longer than is fitting," so a guest who lingers past dinner has, in effect, outstayed their welcome.

Synonyms: overstayed, linger, remain

Antonyms: departed, left, evacuated