layup

1 of 2

noun

lay·​up ˈlā-ˌəp 

1

: the action of laying up or the condition of being laid up

2

: a shot in basketball made from near the basket usually by playing the ball off the backboard

lay up

2 of 2

verb

laid up; laying up; lays up

transitive verb

1

: to store up : lay by

2

: to disable or confine with illness or injury

a knee injury laid him up for a week

3

: to take out of active service

Synonyms of layup

Verb

• store
• lay in
• stash
• lay by

Examples of layup in a Sentence

Verb

an eating disorder that would impel her to lay up candy bars in her closet for all-night food binges

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After scoring her first points of the game on a driving layup on the right side of the basket, Clark took a fall after receiving contact from Valkyries center Kiah Stokes. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

McBride’s layup with 24 seconds left in the first half cut the Lynx’s deficit to 39-37. — Daily News, 15 July 2026

Verb

Mayflies lay up to 10,000 eggs in the water, and their nymphs can't survive in water that is polluted. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026

Female wasps can lay up to 200 eggs a day as long as a host insect is available. — Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 19 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Video

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

Kids Definition

layup

1 of 2 noun

lay·​up ˈlā-ˌəp 

: a basketball shot made from near the basket usually by bouncing the ball off the backboard

lay up

2 of 2 verb

1

: to store up

2

: to disable or confine with illness or injury

a knee injury laid her up for a week

3

: to take out of active service