laid

past tense of lay
1
2
as in settled
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) the rain was just hard enough to lay the dust in the air

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
6
as in bet
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event I'll lay five dollars that you can't do it

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
as in ascribed
to explain (something) as being the result of something else an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring

Synonyms & Similar Words

8

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of laid An equerry laid a wreath on behalf of Queen Camilla, 78, who watched the ceremony from a balcony nearby alongside Princess Kate. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025 Prince William, in the traditional military-style coat and hat, took part in proceedings and laid a wreath. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025 Following World War I and the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which later became Yugoslavia, both laid claim to the city of Fiume. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Nov. 2025 That being said, this is the first appearance on this list by a monster who actually gets laid. Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025 The collection spans from World War II's V-1 flying bomb missile and V-2 rocket, which laid the groundwork for space travel, through Cold War spacecraft such as the Gemini 10, Liberty Bell 7, and a Soviet Vostok capsule. Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025 Leuzinger set the tone on defense early in the game when Pakipole Moala laid a big hit on a Crean Lutheran receiver, resulting in a lost fumble that was recovered by Jediah Cabs. Dan Arritt, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025 His story and downfall laid the groundwork for later financial scandals like Enron and Bernie Madoff. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025 Developers laid the first foundation stone for the museum in 2002 but construction did not begin until 2005. Ayat Al-Tawy, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laid
Verb
  • Johnson’s 55-yard TD run in the third quarter put MidAmerica Nazarene up 31-0.
    The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Younger consumers are, as Veblen might put it, performing taste with efficiency.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The case was eventually settled that year, after the two parties reached a confidential settlement, and have since mended their differences.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Officers with the Boise Police Department will no longer be able to detain someone for loitering after the city settled a federal lawsuit for $200,000.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Most Gazans who had come of age or graduated from university in 2006 when Israel’s blockade was imposed were in 2023 reaching the second half of their thirties without ever having had a job, despite their impressive educational achievements.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Overall, a third — 550,000 pounds — of the total teak the company imported in the past three years can be traced to Myanmar and entered the United States after the sanctions were imposed, according to the Herald’s analysis of records associated with the consignments’ bills of lading.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Nothing could have prepared her for the diagnosis that was yet to come.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Democrats prepared for a high-profile Trump rally or endorsement in Pennsylvania that never came.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Macro factors like lower consumer demand, higher material and labor costs, and a trend in consumer trade-down to lower margin tire products have applied significant margin and growth pressure.
    Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
  • And some Venezuelans, who applied to renew earlier this year, had their TPS extended through early April.
    Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This week’s Club Sportico focuses on a series of sports betting investigations underway in college basketball, ones that could impact dozens of athletes at numerous D-I schools.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Also in this article is the game’s broadcast information, as well as betting information.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Boelter’s motivation remains unclear, but investigators found a one-and-a-half-page letter, described as rambling and difficult to read, that was ascribed to him.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
  • In that vacuum, Republicans have often ascribed political bias as the motivation without providing concrete evidence to back it up, said Stevenson, the debanking expert.
    Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In Talisay city, rows of homes have been flattened and communities along the Mananga River buried in mud and debris.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Lino’s is a restaurant on 35th Street buried deep in the Garment District.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Laid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laid. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

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