layup

1 of 2

noun

lay·​up ˈlā-ˌəp How to pronounce layup (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
On: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton Notable cuts: Jack Plummer, Jake Luton Toughest call: N/A This one’s a layup. Joseph Person, The Athletic, 12 Aug. 2024 Johnson added 12 points after repeatedly driving for layups, Dylan Andrews made two three-pointers on the way to 14 points and Sebastian Mack added 12 points to go with his trademark grit off the bench. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Some players will lay up short of the fairway bunkers to leave themselves a comfortable full club into the green. Brody Miller, The Athletic, 10 Apr. 2024 And with female cane toads capable of laying up to 30,000 eggs at a time, their numbers multiplied at an almost unstoppable pace. Scott Travers, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for layup 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of layup was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near layup

Cite this Entry

“Layup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/layup. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

layup

1 of 2 noun
lay·​up ˈlā-ˌəp How to pronounce layup (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on layup

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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