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
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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
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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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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
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Recent Examples of lay
Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2024
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
Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
The best choice would be someone the public and media can relate to, possibly someone on the church leadership team who is a lay leader.
—Joseph Marchelewski, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lay 
Noun
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
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
Adjective
The university's Board of Trustees unanimously elected Ah Yun, marking the first time a person of color will lead Marquette and just the second time a lay person is in charge.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
The best choice would be someone the public and media can relate to, possibly someone on the church leadership team who is a lay leader.
—Joseph Marchelewski, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay
Verb
-
Just a few days before Alessandro Michele’s inaugural Valentino couture show, the Italian designer welcomed Vogue into one of the house's five Paris ateliers, where master seamstresses were hard at work putting the finishing touches on his otherworldly designs.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Avoid putting shade-loving plants alongside sun-loving varieties that need six or more hours of direct sunlight a day.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The suit was eventually settled out of court, and the group signed a new recording contract yielding one of the biggest albums of the decade, 2000’s No Strings Attached, which sold 2.4 million copies in its first week.—
Shirley Halperin,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Two days after giving birth, the parents eventually settled on Boston.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
This would subject them to new restrictions that the regulator can impose under the DMCC to prevent anti-competitive behavior.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2025
-
The United States has imposed tough restrictions that are designed to prevent Chinese firms from buying or building their own cutting-edge computer chips required to train AI models.—
Matt Egan,
CNN,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
In October, the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers changed uniform colors to prepare for high temperatures at Levi’s Stadium.—
Sam Joseph,
The Athletic,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Edelman shared insight on how teams prepare not only for an opponent each week, but also the officiating crew.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
With these acquisitions, the Sky are developing a clear identity for their backcourt: a lengthy and defensive-minded group with an ability to spread the floor via shooting, giving bigs Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso space to work in the paint and low post.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
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Without Toppin, the Red Raiders tried to spread the floor and attack mismatches, with associate head coach Jeff Linder moving the pieces from the sideline.—
CJ Moore,
The Athletic,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Big game betting on sides, totals, moneylines and popular prop bets is driving the action at the leading online sportsbooks.—
Jay Ginsbach,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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The Philadelphia Eagles have a chance to end the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl three-peat dreams, according to sports betting site BetVictor Canada.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
To ascribe our woes to a society-wide attention-deficit disorder is to make the wrong diagnosis.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
-
His comments are reflective of an emerging understanding that ascribes the party’s shortcomings to voters’ dissatisfaction with pocketbook issues and the perception among the electorate that Democratic priorities were misplaced.—
Noah Rothman,
National Review,
6 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Lane said her family plans to bury Campos next to his father in Queens, New York.—
Chris Kenning,
USA TODAY,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Humans may easily trigger avalanches large enough to bury or injure a person.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
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 4 Feb. 2025.
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