outlay

1 of 2

verb

out·​lay ˈau̇t-ˌlā 

ˌau̇t-ˈlā

outlaid ˈau̇t-ˌlād 

ˌau̇t-ˈlād

; outlaying

transitive verb

: to lay out (money) : expend

outlay

2 of 2

noun

out·​lay ˈau̇t-ˌlā 

1

: the act of expending

2

: expenditure, payment

outlays for national defense

Synonyms

Verb

• disburse
• drop
• expend
• fork (over, out, or up)
• give
• lay out
• pay
• shell out
• spend

Noun

• charge
• cost
• disbursement
• expenditure
• expense
• outgo

Examples of outlay in a Sentence

Verb

the nation had outlaid nearly 20 billion dollars on social programs at that point

Noun

The initial outlay for the program will be 2.4 million dollars.

Maintaining a horse requires considerable outlay.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Vasquez then asked if the RDA had outlaid any money for LaPorte County for shoreline development. —Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025

Vasquez then asked if the RDA had outlaid any money for LaPorte County for shoreline development. —Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025

Noun

Higher federal deficit The bill's provisions would increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion from 2026 to 2034, according to the CBO, which cited tax changes, including the extension of the 2017 tax act and its revenues and outlays for refundable credits. —George Petras, USA Today, 22 May 2025

By using trade credit effectively, small businesses can delay cash outlays, thereby conserving working capital for other essential expenses or investments. —Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1802, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outlay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

outlay

noun

out·​lay

ˈau̇t-ˌlā

1

: the act of spending

2

: an amount spent : payment