as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
be sure to lay in enough food for the long Alaska winter
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Recent Examples of lay in
Police now say that a former boyfriend, 47-year-old Juan Marquez of Hawthorne, lay in wait near her workplace, described on air as Families Together of Orange County.
—
Jeff Horseman,
Oc Register,
17 May 2026
Michael Dale lay in his Escondido home with a plastic bag wrapped around his head and sealed with duct tape for at least eight minutes as Michaela Rylaarsdam, vibrator in hand, kept the cameras rolling, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in San Diego Superior Court.
—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Their interest lay in the contemporary pop culture of their time, consisting largely of rock ‘n’ roll and beach movies starring Annette Fuicello and Frankie Avalon.
—
Raj Tawney,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
Roseberry’s work privileges spectacle—volume, gold, anatomical exaggeration—where Schiaparelli’s shock lay in wit and displacement.
—
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Jeff Horseman,
Oc Register,
17 May 2026
Michael Dale lay in his Escondido home with a plastic bag wrapped around his head and sealed with duct tape for at least eight minutes as Michaela Rylaarsdam, vibrator in hand, kept the cameras rolling, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in San Diego Superior Court.
—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Their interest lay in the contemporary pop culture of their time, consisting largely of rock ‘n’ roll and beach movies starring Annette Fuicello and Frankie Avalon.
—
Raj Tawney,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
Roseberry’s work privileges spectacle—volume, gold, anatomical exaggeration—where Schiaparelli’s shock lay in wit and displacement.
—
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay in
Verb
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It is stored in an inactive form in cells such as the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and immune system—acting as the body’s reserve bank, indicating how much iron is available for future use.
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That badge allowed former surfer Conan Hayes, who was acquainted with election-denier and MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, to enter the secure room where the machines were stored and take images of the voting machines and associated data.
Verb
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There’s a clear PVC pocket for stashing liquid items, and a separate toothbrush tab.
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Chicagoans long have been creative in finding places to stash their cars.
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20in. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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