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Definition
- adjective
- adjective 2
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: marked by or containing untrue statements : false
a lying account of the accident
lying
2 of 2present participle of lie
Synonyms
Examples of lying in a Sentence
Adjective
that lying son of a gun told me that the used car had never been in an accident
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Adjective
He was found dead lying face up on his hotel bed with no signs of trauma, according to a Monday report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
—Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2022
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English leghynge, present participle of lien to lie
Time Traveler
The first known use of lying was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing lying
Dictionary Entries Near lying
Cite this Entry
“Lying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lying. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
lying
1 of 2
ly·ing
ˈlī-iŋ
present participle of lie
lying
2 of 2 adjective
: untruthful, false
a lying account of the accident
Legal Definition
lying
present participle of lie
More from Merriam-Webster on lying
Nglish: Translation of lying for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lying for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lying
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