lie back
phrasal verb
lay back; lain back; lying back; lies back
: to lean backward from a sitting position to a flat position
The doctor asked him to lie back on the table.
Examples of lie back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Once again, as in so many other areas, the Republican Congress lies back and lets Trump trample on the rights of the legislature, with the public having to rely on the independent courts to put Trump in his place.
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 July 2025
Seats could lie back, allowing passengers to meditate or sleep, and things once considered crucial — a steering wheel, for example — could disappear in favor of entertainment and leisure amenities.
—HubSpot, 12 June 2025
Scheffler even excels at approach shot from long distances, ranking 11th in approach shots over 200 yards, which will be needed this week as players lay back off the tee to find fairways.
—Mike Fore, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
In the Turbine Hall, art could be as enjoyable, and as undemanding, as lying back on your chaise in Marbella.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Start streaming a show, grab a book, or hit play on your favorite playlist and lie back in this cloudlike, 5-foot beanbag chair built for three.
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
And it's designed to support both all-out lying back and more upright sitting.
—New Atlas, 17 Mar. 2025
In the picture, a slightly wary — but still smirking — Ronson lies back in a hospital gown while giving the camera a thumbs-up.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2025
Although some people sleep with their heads on their desks or lying back in an office chair, try sprawling out on an office sofa and use the cushion for your head.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 July 2025
Seats could lie back, allowing passengers to meditate or sleep, and things once considered crucial — a steering wheel, for example — could disappear in favor of entertainment and leisure amenities.
—HubSpot, 12 June 2025
Scheffler even excels at approach shot from long distances, ranking 11th in approach shots over 200 yards, which will be needed this week as players lay back off the tee to find fairways.
—Mike Fore, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
In the Turbine Hall, art could be as enjoyable, and as undemanding, as lying back on your chaise in Marbella.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Start streaming a show, grab a book, or hit play on your favorite playlist and lie back in this cloudlike, 5-foot beanbag chair built for three.
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2025
And it's designed to support both all-out lying back and more upright sitting.
—New Atlas, 17 Mar. 2025
In the picture, a slightly wary — but still smirking — Ronson lies back in a hospital gown while giving the camera a thumbs-up.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2025
Although some people sleep with their heads on their desks or lying back in an office chair, try sprawling out on an office sofa and use the cushion for your head.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lie back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lie%20back. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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