Mainstay
noun
The most important part of something that provides stability or reliable support.
Rice is the mainstay of their diet.
Often appears as...
- mainstay of the team
- mainstay of the economy
noun
In sailing, it's a big rope that holds the mast upright.
The mainstay snapped, causing the mast to fall.
Often appears as...
- mainstay broke
- inspect the mainstay
Usage tips
Technical
noun
The most important part of something that provides stability or reliable support.
Rice is the mainstay of their diet.
Often appears as...
- mainstay of the team
- mainstay of the economy
noun
In sailing, it's a big rope that holds the mast upright.
The mainstay snapped, causing the mast to fall.
Often appears as...
- mainstay broke
- inspect the mainstay
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Reliable Support
Focus on how 'mainstay' implies that something is consistently reliable and necessary for support.
The goalkeeper is the mainstay of our football team.
Pro Tip 2/3Core Component
'Mainstay' often refers to a key component that holds everything else together, emphasizing its central importance.
Trust is the mainstay of any strong relationship.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Connotation
'Mainstay' can evoke a sense of gratitude or appreciation for whatever is providing support.
My grandmother has been the mainstay of our family through difficult times.
Pro Tip 1/3Reliable Support
Focus on how 'mainstay' implies that something is consistently reliable and necessary for support.
The goalkeeper is the mainstay of our football team.
Pro Tip 2/3Core Component
'Mainstay' often refers to a key component that holds everything else together, emphasizing its central importance.
Trust is the mainstay of any strong relationship.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Connotation
'Mainstay' can evoke a sense of gratitude or appreciation for whatever is providing support.
My grandmother has been the mainstay of our family through difficult times.
Pro Tip 1/3Reliable Support
Focus on how 'mainstay' implies that something is consistently reliable and necessary for support.
The goalkeeper is the mainstay of our football team.
Pro Tip 2/3Core Component
'Mainstay' often refers to a key component that holds everything else together, emphasizing its central importance.
Trust is the mainstay of any strong relationship.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Connotation
'Mainstay' can evoke a sense of gratitude or appreciation for whatever is providing support.
My grandmother has been the mainstay of our family through difficult times.
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Video examples
Dive into an ocean...
Armies of crustaceans, most no bigger than the size of your pupils, are the mainstay of the manta ray's diet. When plankton concentrations become patchy, manta rays feed alone and they somersault themselves backwards again and again, very much like a puppy chasing its own tail.
Video examples
Hope for Rivers During...
from the lease help them reopen sooner and get revenues flowing again traveling down through the middle of town enjoying a day on the river you will also pass through farm country a mainstay of this valleys economy a drought year brings
Video examples
Louise Fresco on feeding...
the mainstay of modern life. So I'm going to bake bread for you. In the meantime I'm also talking to you, so my life is going to be complicated. Bear with me. First of all, a little bit of audience participation.
Video examples
How a handful of fishing...
as our atmosphere, our forests or our soils. Their staggering productivity ranks fisheries with farming as a mainstay of food production for humanity. Yet something's gone badly wrong.
Video examples
Vampire of Venice PIPE...
fingerprinting is a mainstay of modern forensics and can reveal almost everything about an individual it contains our complete genetic blueprint but with every passing second after
Video examples
Whales And Seals Devour...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the Antarctic food web
Video examples
Fur Seals and Whales...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the Antarctic food web
Video examples
ONE HOUR Of Amazing...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the antarctic food
Video examples
Magnificent Whale...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the antarctic food
Video examples
The Blue Planet...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the
Video examples
Dive into an ocean...
Armies of crustaceans, most no bigger than the size of your pupils, are the mainstay of the manta ray's diet. When plankton concentrations become patchy, manta rays feed alone and they somersault themselves backwards again and again, very much like a puppy chasing its own tail.
Video examples
Hope for Rivers During...
from the lease help them reopen sooner and get revenues flowing again traveling down through the middle of town enjoying a day on the river you will also pass through farm country a mainstay of this valleys economy a drought year brings
Video examples
Louise Fresco on feeding...
the mainstay of modern life. So I'm going to bake bread for you. In the meantime I'm also talking to you, so my life is going to be complicated. Bear with me. First of all, a little bit of audience participation.
Video examples
How a handful of fishing...
as our atmosphere, our forests or our soils. Their staggering productivity ranks fisheries with farming as a mainstay of food production for humanity. Yet something's gone badly wrong.
Video examples
Vampire of Venice PIPE...
fingerprinting is a mainstay of modern forensics and can reveal almost everything about an individual it contains our complete genetic blueprint but with every passing second after
Video examples
Whales And Seals Devour...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the Antarctic food web
Video examples
Fur Seals and Whales...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the Antarctic food web
Video examples
ONE HOUR Of Amazing...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the antarctic food
Video examples
Magnificent Whale...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the antarctic food
Video examples
The Blue Planet...
all these animals have come here in search of one thing the krill krill is the mainstay of the
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Mark Kurlansky
American Journalist
Before refrigeration, most food was heavily salted. Many of these salted foods have persisted, such as sauerkraut, pickles, cured anchovies, cheese, salted butter, ham, corned beef, sausage, and bacon. We still eat these things because we like them. But they are no longer the mainstay of our diet.
Quote examples
Rory O'Malley
American Actor
The key to doing eight shows a week is maintaining your energy. Getting as much sleep as possible and a big, healthy breakfast is the best way to make that happen. My mainstay is granola cereal, a banana, and soy milk. I also try to add a side of fresh fruit with yogurt and peanut butter toast.
Quote examples
Stana Katic
Canadian Actress
I got introduced to yoga in drama school. It's now a mainstay in my life, ever since I got instructor certification at a teacher-training intensive. I even occasionally guide an intimate class of friends and family, but mostly the training was to serve and deepen my own practice.
Quote examples
Nikola Tesla
Inventor
If we want to reduce poverty and misery, if we want to give to every deserving individual what is needed for a safe existence of an intelligent being, we want to provide more machinery, more power. Power is our mainstay, the primary source of our many-sided energies.
Quote examples
Erin Brockovich
American Activist
I have never moved away from my mainstay - trying to address all the environmental issues that come to me. I consult with law firms in the U.S., Australia, the U.K., Italy, Greece, and India to begin to address environmental disasters. I do motivational speaking.
Quote examples
MS Dhoni
Indian Athlete
Making important medicine more available and affordable is a great thing for the country, and Netmeds is one the mainstays in the space. They have a long legacy in the pharma business, and they are making it easier for people to stay healthy.
Quote examples
Eva Vertes
American Scientist
For so long, the mainstays of cancer treatment have been chemotherapy and radiation. They're toxic and primitive. We need to look at it in a rational way and say, how can we help the body heal itself?
Quote examples
Adam Granduciel
American Musician
I'd love to do denim merch sometime, though. That's pretty much the mainstay of my wardrobe. I have a bunch of denim jackets I wear all the time.
Quote examples
Gabrielle Carteris
American Actress
Inclusion and transparency have been mainstays of my leadership. It's about education and reaching out.
Quote examples
Gary Wolf
American Journalist
The idea that our mental life is affected by hidden causes is a mainstay of psychology.
Quote examples
Mark Kurlansky
American Journalist
Before refrigeration, most food was heavily salted. Many of these salted foods have persisted, such as sauerkraut, pickles, cured anchovies, cheese, salted butter, ham, corned beef, sausage, and bacon. We still eat these things because we like them. But they are no longer the mainstay of our diet.
Quote examples
Rory O'Malley
American Actor
The key to doing eight shows a week is maintaining your energy. Getting as much sleep as possible and a big, healthy breakfast is the best way to make that happen. My mainstay is granola cereal, a banana, and soy milk. I also try to add a side of fresh fruit with yogurt and peanut butter toast.
Quote examples
Stana Katic
Canadian Actress
I got introduced to yoga in drama school. It's now a mainstay in my life, ever since I got instructor certification at a teacher-training intensive. I even occasionally guide an intimate class of friends and family, but mostly the training was to serve and deepen my own practice.
Quote examples
Nikola Tesla
Inventor
If we want to reduce poverty and misery, if we want to give to every deserving individual what is needed for a safe existence of an intelligent being, we want to provide more machinery, more power. Power is our mainstay, the primary source of our many-sided energies.
Quote examples
Erin Brockovich
American Activist
I have never moved away from my mainstay - trying to address all the environmental issues that come to me. I consult with law firms in the U.S., Australia, the U.K., Italy, Greece, and India to begin to address environmental disasters. I do motivational speaking.
Quote examples
MS Dhoni
Indian Athlete
Making important medicine more available and affordable is a great thing for the country, and Netmeds is one the mainstays in the space. They have a long legacy in the pharma business, and they are making it easier for people to stay healthy.
Quote examples
Eva Vertes
American Scientist
For so long, the mainstays of cancer treatment have been chemotherapy and radiation. They're toxic and primitive. We need to look at it in a rational way and say, how can we help the body heal itself?
Quote examples
Adam Granduciel
American Musician
I'd love to do denim merch sometime, though. That's pretty much the mainstay of my wardrobe. I have a bunch of denim jackets I wear all the time.
Quote examples
Gabrielle Carteris
American Actress
Inclusion and transparency have been mainstays of my leadership. It's about education and reaching out.
Quote examples
Gary Wolf
American Journalist
The idea that our mental life is affected by hidden causes is a mainstay of psychology.
Example 1 of 10
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