layup

1 of 2

noun

lay·up ˈlā-ˌəp

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

: 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

: to store up : lay by

: to disable or confine with illness or injury

a knee injury laid him up for a week

: to take out of active service

Example Sentences

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

The Celtics won Game 1 of their first-round playoff series with the Nets last season on a buzzer-beating, twisting layup by Jayson Tatum. —

Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 28 May 2023 Some of those criticisms were coming from users accusing Lewis of being a Boston fan after officials missed an obvious foul call on Jayson Tatum on a potential LeBron James game-winning layup during the Boston Celtics’ 125-121 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 28. —

oregonlive, 27 May 2023 Smart reached at the ball, stripped it free and dove to collect it near the foul line before shoveling it ahead to Jayson Tatum for a fast-break layup and the game’s first points. —

Scott Cacciola, New York Times, 26 May 2023 Taurasi dished out two assists that helped her team continue its lead in the second quarter, while taking matters into her own hands with two 3s and a key defensive rebound that set up Sutton’s driving layup. —

Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 26 May 2023 Johnson blurted after Tyus Edney dribbled from one baseline to the other in 4.8 seconds to beat Missouri in the 1995 NCAA tournament with a twisting layup. —

Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2023 Nikola Jokic blocked a layup attempt by DeAndre Ayton. —

Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 8 May 2023 Though the disparities along the perimeter and at the foul line were somewhat predictable given the two teams’ regular-season numbers, Kerr knows Golden State must convert more layups, floaters and free throws to avoid flying to Los Angeles in a 2-0 series hole. —

Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 May 2023 Or the driving layup with .4 seconds left to give the Kings a 117-115 victory against Utah? —

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2023

Verb

From 308 yards, while on the fairway, Scheffler didn't choose to lay up. —

USA TODAY, 20 May 2022 Galloway finished the easy lay up. —

Matt Cohen, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Jan. 2022 Korda couldn’t get close enough with a wedge after having to lay up. —

Doug Ferguson, orlandosentinel.com, 14 Sep. 2020 Initially, bookmakers opened the Warriors as a one-point favorite, but now that line has gone in the other direction, with Sacramento laying up to 1.5 points at one sportsbook. —

Michael Arinze, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2023 Getting his daily burrito bowl while laid up after minor surgery required some support. —

Lawrence Specker | , al, 8 Apr. 2023 Stream on Paramount+ 8 Working Girl Working Girl | #TBT Trailer | 20th Century FOX Watch on A humble receptionist (played by Melanie Griffith) takes revenge and her destiny into her own hands when her credit-stealing boss (played by Sigourney Weaver) is laid up with an injury. —

Leah Hall, Country Living, 8 Mar. 2023 Bald eagles can lay up to four eggs per year, usually between two and five days apart. —

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2023 With Farshid laid up in hospital, Omid takes over his route, dodging flying shrapnel on his motorbike to distribute tureens of biryani cooked by a jolly local chef to the increasingly ragtag remaining residents of Abadan. —

Jessica Kiang, Variety, 16 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'layup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.