1
as in to put
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
just lay the book over there on the table for now
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Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet
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4
as in to prepare
to make ready in advance
she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
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5
as in to spread
to put a layer of on a surface
the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second
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6
7
as in to ascribe
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring
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8
as in to bury
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
lay the corpse to rest
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1
2
as in ballad
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
she sang a short lay in dedication to her husband
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as in work
the activity by which one regularly makes a living
my main lay is as a general contractor, but I do side work as a carpenter
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as in laic
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay
Phil Clark, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
Whether viewed as a romp, a relic, or a route to commiseration, the series about four friends trying to find love (or at least a good lay) in the world’s most competitive concrete jungle has stood the test of time.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 June 2024
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Almost all of that — the risk calculus, the debate — was invisible to the lay visitor on the opening afternoon.
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for lay 
Noun
These courts, which sat every week under trees and in village courtyards across Rwanda, heard more than one million cases and were overseen by lay judges who could hand down sentences as severe as life imprisonment (although most consisted merely of community service).
—Phil Clark, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
Whether viewed as a romp, a relic, or a route to commiseration, the series about four friends trying to find love (or at least a good lay) in the world’s most competitive concrete jungle has stood the test of time.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 June 2024
Adjective
The Legislature passed the measure idly as a meaningless gift to its drafter, John W. Butler, a lay preacher who hadn’t passed any other bill.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Almost all of that — the risk calculus, the debate — was invisible to the lay visitor on the opening afternoon.
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 16 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for lay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay
Verb
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The fact that China tolerated open criticism of North Korea’s leadership put further strain on the relationship between the two governments.Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
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Pearsall’s first career touchdown had put the 49ers ahead 7-0, once a replay confirmed Pearsall’s 46-yard catch-and-run.Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The former couple settled their divorce in June after Turner filed just hours after the divorce announcement aired on Good Morning America.Julia Moore, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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The exes settle in for an awkward ride back to civilization.Sara Netzley, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Then, in 1986, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which increased border enforcement, imposed penalties on employers who hired undocumented people, and legalized some three million undocumented people, including many Californians.Eladio B. Bobadilla / Made by History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
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Even then, Boeing will continue to lag its rival, Airbus, in delivery of the aircraft variants for years into the future, owing to limits imposed by regulators on production and certification in the wake of years of accidents and quality incidents.Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But a fight in the Pacific is not the only scenario the United States must be prepared for (and, ideally, deter), and readiness in other arenas will require addressing other deficiencies.Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
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In a nighttime video, a group of men is seen blocking traffic on a highway and slicking the roadway to prepare for the race.Antonio Planas, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Fix the Hide Before Tweaking the Spread If things aren’t going as planned and ducks aren’t finishing, duck hunters tend to want to mess with the decoy spread.Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
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Dozens of firefighters were battling the brush fire just days after fires in wooded areas of Brooklyn, the Bronx and New Jersey spread smoke across New York City.Evan Bush, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
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And betting markets that allow average investors to place wagers on the election outcome have in recent weeks favored Trump.Kate Gibson, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
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The user bet $28.6 million on the former president from four different accounts.Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Data collected in the late 1800s and early 1900s suggested different races have different lung capacities, a phenomenon researchers ascribed to innate biology rather than social, economic or environmental factors.Cassandra Willyard, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
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Only Keynesians ascribe an ability of governments to increase demand, but that’s to the everlasting discredit of Keynesianism.John Tamny, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Some family members choose to bury their heads in the sand and blame the victim rather than the offender.Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
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Daniel Hunter, founder of Choose Democracy, an organization that provides resources to help Americans prepare for an undemocratic power grab, says his experience in activism has taught him that the solution isn’t to bury your head in the sand or jump to the worst-case scenario.Allie Volpe, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Thesaurus Entries Near lay
Cite this Entry
“Lay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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