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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to prepare
to make ready in advance
she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in laic
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of lay
Noah Lederman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024
Sources: Politico, Reuters Group therapy led by lay counselors is helping to combat depression
In Zambia, only about 25 psychologists and psychiatrists serve a population of 20 million.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2024
Reuters, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
The general public wins in that all three have, unusually for academic economists, written extensively for lay audiences; Acemoglu and Robinson’s 2012 book Why Nations Fail was a bestseller, and Johnson has had several prominent books on financial regulation and innovation.
—Dylan Matthews, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for lay
Noun
Volunteer lifeguards and local boatmen offer surf lessons for newer riders or even experienced wave riders who want to better understand the lay of the underwater land.
—Noah Lederman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024
Sources: Politico, Reuters Group therapy led by lay counselors is helping to combat depression
In Zambia, only about 25 psychologists and psychiatrists serve a population of 20 million.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2024
Adjective
Corsica, like much of France, has a long history of lay Catholic associations, known as confraternities.
—Reuters, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
The general public wins in that all three have, unusually for academic economists, written extensively for lay audiences; Acemoglu and Robinson’s 2012 book Why Nations Fail was a bestseller, and Johnson has had several prominent books on financial regulation and innovation.
—Dylan Matthews, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See All Example Sentences for lay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay
Verb
-
The person singing that song, as Marco put it the other day, is the song itself.—
Juan A. Ramírez,
Vogue,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Some of those judges have ordered the Trump administration to put its plans on hold while legal proceedings move forward, sparking condemnations from the president's allies and threats of impeachment.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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He’s settled well on Merseyside, building tight bonds with fellow pros like Darwin Núñez and Alexis Mac Allister, and knows the Kop’s rocking song about his path to Merseyside and goalscoring endeavors.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Majors and Jabbari settled the civil suit in November 2024.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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After those tariffs were imposed, Canada and the European Union retaliated with countermeasures on U.S. exports.—
Christopher Cann,
USA TODAY,
17 Mar. 2025
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Trump earlier announced 25 percent targeted tariffs on Canada and Mexico, his country’s largest trade partners, and has threatened to impose tariffs on all Canadian goods imported into the U.S. on April 2.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Unlike others, Granta Autonomy is no new start-up but has been preparing for a drone war for more than ten years.—
David Hambling,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Did both sides not set staffers aside after the call to prepare an identical readout of what was agreed?—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That evening outside Eaton Canyon, the fire spread without halting.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
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The ripple effects of the tense relations with the US have spread through Canadian society, with fans at NHL and NBA games in Canada even booing the US national anthem.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Other stocks near the bottom of us include AI chipmakers Nvidia and Broadcom , as well as Salesforce , which has bet big on AI software tools.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2025
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Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Needless to say, the thinking of OPEC+ ministers is not transparent, but there is a long history of pundits to ascribing the group’s (especially by the Saudis) as being driven by non-economic, political motivations.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
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Columbia University Apartheid Divest ascribed the crackdown to outside pressure.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Gaza’s health ministry said the toll was likely to rise with many people buried under rubble.—
Abeer Salman,
CNN,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Once a week or so, one of them takes a short helicopter ride to the northern slope of the Mauna Loa volcano – necessary because in 2022 an eruption buried more than a mile of the road in 30 feet of lava.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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