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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in to bury
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
lay the corpse to rest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
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
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
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
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
-
After a scoreless first half, Leo Holt put Bellarmine on top 1-0 with an assist from Thomas Dumont.—
Christian Babcock,
The Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2025
-
The Emmy-winning show puts an unlikely mix of reality TV stars competing to solve a murder mystery game in exchange for $250,000.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Slotkin spoke from Wyandotte, Mich., a working-class community south of Detroit, as Democrats struggle to settle on a unified message to combat Trump, which was on full display Tuesday night as Trump delivered the longest address to Congress by a president in U.S. history.—
Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports,
arkansasonline.com,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Slotkin’s spoke from Wyandotte, Michigan, a working-class community south of Detroit, as Democrats struggle to settle on a unified message to combat Trump, which was on full display Tuesday night as Trump delivered the longest address to Congress by a president in U.S. history.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Trump's first joint congressional address of his second presidency comes after weeks of his administration carrying out an agenda that includes imposing tariffs on imports, cutting federal government spending and seeking to end conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Trump, on Monday, imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese products, adding on top of a 10% duty in February.—
Alex Thomas,
arkansasonline.com,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
His selection as chairman was seen as key to propelling the military from two decades of war in the Middle East to a focus on preparing for and deterring potential conflict with China.—
Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2025
-
The city can expect to receive about $1.3 million annually in tax revenue from three operating retail sales licenses, according to a staff report prepared for Wednesday’s meeting, and would receive more from a fourth license.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Waves would eventually have spread that resulting sediment along the shore, forming a beach that'd have been strikingly familiar to us.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Space.com,
25 Feb. 2025
-
This wave of luxurious amenities is spreading across England, with Brighton & Hove Albion planning an expansion that includes a £40 million ($50. 5 million) upgrade to its stadium.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Big Ten Teams Odds To Win The NCAA Tournament And Reach Final Four FanDuel is the official odds provider for The Associated Press, and provides daily college basketball odds and NCAA Tournament futures, which both refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.—
Jay Ginsbach,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
For this year's tournament, several sportsbooks will offer the option to bet on either Duke or Auburn, or someone besides those two (the field).—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Columbia University Apartheid Divest ascribed the crackdown to outside pressure.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Some conservative Christian stay-at-home moms homeschool their children, and some don’t, Du Mez noted, while some Mormon families may ascribe to tradwife-style values but hold very different religious beliefs from evangelicals or Catholics.—
Anna North,
Vox,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Matte, the State Archives administrator, has spent his career buried in these aging paper documents.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Knowledge workers routinely report spending 2.5 hours daily searching for information buried in email threads and disorganized files.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 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 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share