as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
an eating disorder that would impel her to lay up candy bars in her closet for all-night food binges
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay up
On the 12-foot canvas, my eye went to the place out of focus: the thin strip of billboard in the background featuring a young woman with sand-dune hips, patent knee-high boots and long black hair laid up on her side, wearing cat ears and a tiger bodysuit as flush as second skin.
—
Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
McIlroy twice made birdie on the par 5s after laying up from the trees.
—Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Summit's Javon Ross (33) lays up a ball as Lovejoy's Maddox Johnson (2) defends in the second half of a high school basketball game, Class 5A Division II state semifinal, at SUM’s Moody Coliseum, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in University Park.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Comedian Mike Epps had some encouraging words for a teen laid up in the hospital after being shot three times over the weekend.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay up
Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
McIlroy twice made birdie on the par 5s after laying up from the trees.
—Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Summit's Javon Ross (33) lays up a ball as Lovejoy's Maddox Johnson (2) defends in the second half of a high school basketball game, Class 5A Division II state semifinal, at SUM’s Moody Coliseum, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in University Park.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Comedian Mike Epps had some encouraging words for a teen laid up in the hospital after being shot three times over the weekend.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay up
Verb
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That's why making noise, storing food properly and carrying accessible bear spray remain your best defenses.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
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The only opposition came from James Eadie, a licensed pyrotechnic operator, who said hobby rocket users could have difficulty complying with the bill because many local governments do not have permitting processes for storing small quantities of rocket motors.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Perhaps the answer lay in what Harris did say.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
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But Head’s true genius—and that of his character—lay in quietly filling in the gaps in every scene, working with his fellow castmates to weave a complete tapestry.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 June 2026
Verb
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The separate bottom-zipper section is an absolute lifesaver if you — like me — are accustomed to bringing along multiple pairs of shoes or want a place to stash wet swimwear or heavy toiletries.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
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This wooden nightstand has just enough drawer space for stashing nightly reads, melatonin, and your favorite sleep mask.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20up. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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