layout

1 of 2

noun

lay·​out ˈlā-ˌau̇t 

1

: the plan or design or arrangement of something laid out: such as

a

: dummy sense 5b

b

: final arrangement of matter to be reproduced especially by printing

2

: the act or process of planning or laying out in detail

3

a

: something that is laid out

a model train layout

b

: land or structures or rooms used for a particular purpose

a cattle-ranching layout

also : place

c

: a set or outfit especially of tools

lay out

2 of 2

verb

laid out; laying out; lays out

transitive verb

1

: display, exhibit

2

: spend

3

a

: to prepare (a corpse) for viewing

b

: to knock flat or unconscious

4

: to plan in detail

lay out a campaign

5

: arrange, design

6

: to mark (work) for drilling, machining, or filing

Synonyms of layout

Noun

• format
• formation
• arrangement
• design

Verb

• spend
• pay
• give

Examples of layout in a Sentence

Noun

The layout of the apartment was good, but the kitchen was too small.

She designed the page layout for the new magazine.

Verb

he laid out big bucks for a new lawnmower that runs by itself

the transatlantic balloonists laid out a backup plan in case of an emergency

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Up on the second level of rooms—meaning, set slightly higher up on the hill—are two Cabo Blanco suites, which have a more traditional hotel room layout (and slightly smaller footprint) than the Amura, with a terrace and plunge pool included. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026

The layout is straightforward and livable. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026

Verb

Perhaps a reasonable guideline is to have the municipality lay out the original cash to build a public facility, such as a parking lot or a toll road, and have the users pay a fee for the operation and maintenance of the facilities. —Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026

In his note, Mish and other UBS analysts lay out a baseline scenario in which borrowers of leveraged loans and private credit see a combined $75 billion to $120 billion in fresh defaults by the end of this year. —Hugh Son, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for layout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

layout

1 of 2 noun

lay·​out ˈlā-ˌau̇t 

1

: plan entry 1 sense 1, arrangement

2

: something laid out

3

: a set or outfit especially of tools

lay out

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)lā-ˈau̇t

1

: plan entry 2 sense 1

lay out a campaign

2

: to arrange for display or for working on

lay out an exhibit

3

: spend sense 1