lay aside

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 figuratively
Plans 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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lay aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20aside. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster