lay aside
phrasal verb
laid aside; laying aside; lays aside
1
: to place (something) to one side
She laid aside the book she had been reading and turned on the TV.
—often used figurativelyPlans for a new school have been laid aside.
We need to lay our differences aside so that we can learn to work together.
2
: to keep (something) for special or future use : to reserve or save (something)
She has been able to lay aside a few dollars each week.
Examples of lay aside in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Howard suggested that the freedmen could work for the planters, urging them to lay aside bitter feelings and reconcile with their former enslavers.
—
Essence, 18 June 2024
The solo cellist sometimes lays aside the bow to tap strings with a short stick.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 21 Apr. 2023
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Essence, 18 June 2024
The solo cellist sometimes lays aside the bow to tap strings with a short stick.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 21 Apr. 2023
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Cite this Entry
“Lay aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20aside. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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