layup

1 of 2

noun

lay·​up ˈlā-ˌəp 

1

: the action of laying up or the condition of being laid up

2

: a shot in basketball made from near the basket usually by playing the ball off the backboard

lay up

2 of 2

verb

laid up; laying up; lays up

transitive verb

1

: to store up : lay by

2

: to disable or confine with illness or injury

a knee injury laid him up for a week

3

: to take out of active service

Synonyms

Verb

• cache
• hoard
• lay away
• lay by
• lay in
• put by
• salt away
• squirrel (away)
• stash
• stockpile
• store
• stow
• treasure

Examples of layup in a Sentence

Verb

an eating disorder that would impel her to lay up candy bars in her closet for all-night food binges

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Tigers went ahead 64-61 on consecutive layups by Harper Mowrey before the Patriots made three straight shots to take a 67-64 lead. —The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025

Curl scored back-to-back layups, leading to Fort sinking a three-pointer to provide the Yankees a 52-42 lead with just more than five minutes left. —Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025

Verb

At age 8, in Croatia, his sick father was temporarily laid up in bed. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2025

The life cycle of a moth is 65 to 90 days, with female moths laying up to 300 eggs each. —Ellie Pithers, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

layup

1 of 2 noun

lay·​up ˈlā-ˌəp 

: a basketball shot made from near the basket usually by bouncing the ball off the backboard

lay up

2 of 2 verb

1

: to store up

2

: to disable or confine with illness or injury

a knee injury laid her up for a week

3

: to take out of active service