lid

1 of 2

noun

ˈlid 

plural lids

1

: a movable cover for the opening of a hollow container (such as a vessel or box)

2

: eyelid

3

: the operculum in mosses

4

slang : hat

5

: something that confines, limits, or suppresses : check, restraint

6

slang : an ounce of marijuana

"He wanted privacy. He'd bought a keg of beer and a lid of dope and he didn't want his parents to know."

—Sue Grafton

lid

2 of 2

verb

lidded; lidding

transitive verb

: to cover or supply with a lid

Synonyms of lid

Noun

• cover
• top
• cap
• hood
• roof

Examples of lid in a Sentence

Noun

I had to get a screwdriver to pry the lid off of the paint can.

as he left the field, the pitcher tipped his lid to the cheering crowd

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tired of searching for lids for your containers? —ABC News, 22 June 2026

Heat domes are persistent high-pressure systems which act like a lid on a pot, trapping hot air and pushing it downward. —Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 22 June 2026

Makeup artist Ernesto Casillas used an iridescent purple eyeshadow all over her lids. —Mykenna Maniece, Vogue, 22 June 2026

Well, the gentlemen need a place to park the lids, because the social froth in the Royal Box or in any other Royal Ascot enclosure can become quite demanding, and there are many, many black or grey toppers in attendance. —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hlid; akin to Old High German hlit cover, and probably to Old English hlinian to lean — more at lean

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lid

• blow the lid off
• flip one's lid
• keep a lid on
• lift the lid on
• put a lid on
• put a lid on it
• put the lid on

Rhymes for lid

• bid
• did
• grid
• hid
• id
• mid
• quid
• rid
• skid
• slid
• squid
• amid

Kids Definition

lid

noun

ˈlid

1

: a movable cover (as for a box or jar)

2

: eyelid

3

slang : hat

4

: a force that holds back

tried to keep a lid on the news

lidded

ˈlid-əd

adjective

Medical Definition

lid

noun

ˈlid 

: eyelid