as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
the weather forecast warned of a severe storm, so we laid away a generous supply of bottled water and canned food just in case
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in installment plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay away
Tom Hyland, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021
Mac Schwerin, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2023
Retailers, for their part, created the layaway plan, which allowed consumers to reserve a product in return for a down payment, with further payments made throughout the year.
—Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 14 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for lay away
Verb
Yet, despite the tannins, Freisa is not a wine to lay away in most examples, but rather one that should be enjoyed early on, often chilled, with soups, seafood or lighter meats.
—Tom Hyland, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021
Noun
Putting a banh mi on layaway—this is the world that buy-now, pay-later programs have wrought.
—Mac Schwerin, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2023
Retailers, for their part, created the layaway plan, which allowed consumers to reserve a product in return for a down payment, with further payments made throughout the year.
—Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 14 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for lay away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay away
Verb
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After a bit of work scraping out the cocoons, they can be stored in the refrigerator.—
Martha Ann Overland,
NPR,
6 Apr. 2025
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For best freshness for longer, store them stem side down, and do not stack them on top of each other.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The American dream is buying a set of steak knives on an installment plan at three in the morning.—
John DeVore,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2025
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Another social media user pointed out potential personal finance issues in making installment plans for a food delivery order.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That woman tuned out to be Barba, who police discovered in a car nearby an apartment where the drugs were meant to be stashed with a shoebox of fentanyl on the front passenger floor.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
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The Lifting Eye Serum, to Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser and more, Olivia Culpo has been known to stash a few high-end buys in her beauty cabinet.—
Dahvi Shira,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Other credits include Big Little Lies, the Oscar-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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And stick around for an end credits surprise or two.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And even as the show plays with time differently, a lot of bricks needed to be laid in order to get to this point.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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The dog, resembling a German Shepherd breed, was found laying in the middle of the road after being hit by a car.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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He was laid up in bed for five weeks in the summer of 1919 but returned to the job that fall.—
Richard Selcer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2025
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Morikawa was laid up 90 yards out, while Henley's approach sailed right of the green.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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When the smoke cleared, leaving stains on the green that didn’t affect their shots, Scheffler, who missed birdie puts by inches on 16 and 17, came up an inch short again on his 26-footer.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2024
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Truman answers the questions put by Pearl’s diners.—
Liz Smith,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2024
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20away. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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