lay-by

1 of 2

noun

ˈlā-ˌbī 

1

British : turnout sense 2b

2

: the final operation (such as a last cultivating) in the growing of a field crop

lay by

2 of 2

verb

laid by; laying by; lays by

transitive verb

1

: to lay aside : discard

2

: to store for future use : save

3

: to cultivate (a crop, such as corn) for the last time

Synonyms

Verb

• discard
• dump
• ditch
• unload
• lose
• slough (off)
• throw away

Examples of lay-by in a Sentence

Verb

a politician who had laid by his principles years ago

ever since the last hurricane caught them unprepared, they have laid by emergency supplies

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s no going back to the time when Worthington was driving 14 hours (and sleeping in a lay-by overnight) to watch Benzema at Lyon. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1939, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lay-by

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny