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

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

This month, Amazon uploaded a quaint cabin-style Prefab Customizable Tiny Home with no shortage of windows and a flexible layout. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025

Already, three in 10 advertisers are using Gen AI creative tools to tick off laborious tasks, like automatically adjusting images, copy and layouts for different ad placements in seconds. —Derya Matras, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025

Verb

Few laws lay out the extent of their accountability and certainly not in Guatemala. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Oct. 2025

Instead, Barrett stressed the importance of collegiality among the justices on the nation’s highest court and how her law clerks weed through the bevy of amicus briefs the court receives, only passing along to her those that lay out legal arguments rather than policy ones. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025

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