1
as in put
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
just lay the book over there on the table for now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in imposed
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in prepared
to make ready in advance
she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in applied
to put a layer of on a surface
the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in buried
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
lay the corpse to rest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of laid
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
Hurricane Melissa’s punishing intensity laid bare the vulnerability of island nations—and served as a stark reminder of how quickly catastrophe can strike as the Atlantic churns out more Category 5 storms.
—Cameron Schoppa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
This laid the groundwork for the Giris to launch Vottera as an ROC brand from day one.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
Within a year of that demonstration, telephone lines were being laid and the first telephone exchanges opened, reshaping communication at its core.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
Chip heeled tight to my left, his ears laid back, whining softly.
—Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Both contestants laid it all out.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Israel’s offensive in Gaza, launched in response to the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas’s attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and laid waste to swaths of territory.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
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
Hurricane Melissa’s punishing intensity laid bare the vulnerability of island nations—and served as a stark reminder of how quickly catastrophe can strike as the Atlantic churns out more Category 5 storms.
—Cameron Schoppa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
This laid the groundwork for the Giris to launch Vottera as an ROC brand from day one.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
Within a year of that demonstration, telephone lines were being laid and the first telephone exchanges opened, reshaping communication at its core.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
Chip heeled tight to my left, his ears laid back, whining softly.
—Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Both contestants laid it all out.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Israel’s offensive in Gaza, launched in response to the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas’s attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and laid waste to swaths of territory.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laid
Verb
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China has been building the world’s largest navy, launching high-tech warships at a frenetic pace under the leadership of Xi Jinping, putting pressure on the United States and its Pacific allies to keep pace.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
In addition to Hermitage Farm, Laura Lee Brown and Wilson, who also founded the 21c Museum Hotel chain, have put more than 2,400 acres of land in agriculture conservation easements in Oldham County.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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They are assembled in factories and rarely move once they’ve been purchased and settled.—
Cassie Powell,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In 2021, Giuffre sued Andrew, and the case was settled in 2022 for an undisclosed sum.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Though the Maldives is the first country to enact such a ban, similar proposals have been debated – and nearly imposed – in other parts of the world.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The Pentagon recently imposed the most stringent access restrictions of the term, requiring that all reporters covering the Defense Department in person sign a restrictive press policy prohibiting them from soliciting any information the department has not authorized for release.—
Scott Nover,
Arkansas Online,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Now, Knight, 36, is prepared to renew the fighting spirit against the neighbors from the North in Italy, and, like Harvey, is prepared to hear her national anthem booed.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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Southern said her mother taught her to always be prepared.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Stepper motors applied small boundary motions, tracked by cameras.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Another similar video gave an even closer look at these green prosthetics, which the makeup artist applied on top of her upper lip, instantly giving Klum a witchy look.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Since 1985, the Seminoles have lost only five times when favored by more than 17 points, according to OddsShark’s betting database and newspaper archives.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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In July 2024, Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial ended by being dismissed with prejudice after his attorneys argued that prosecutors had buried evidence.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Some victims were buried under rubble as of Wednesday morning.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Laid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laid. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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