lay 1 of 4

1
2
as in to settle
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
as in to spread
to put a layer of on a surface the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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8

lay

2 of 4

noun (1)

lay

3 of 4

noun (2)

lay

4 of 4

adjective

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 lay
Adjective
The lay community provides for monks and temples, in exchange for the spiritual currency of merit, which is believed to turn into good karma. Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025 Professional societies, meetings, the lay press and websites are all valuable sources of information. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025 Being in the highest tertile (one third for the lay person) of cardio health, Bhatt said, will add close to a decade to your life. John Werner, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 Beyond lay undulating dunes and sand mountains. Sue Mead, Popular Science, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay
Verb
  • The last time Florida put a zero on the board through three periods?
    Adam Beasley, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025
  • Today, one extraordinary dining concept can put an entire region on the map for our clientele.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Have all the evidentiary issues been settled? Not entirely.
    Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • Paramount owner Shari Redstone wants to settle with Trump, The New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources.
    Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • The law imposes civil penalties and mandates back pay and benefits for noncompliance.
    Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • In Game 6, the Nuggets, already playing a short rotation, finally decided to impose their will physically on a young Thunder team.
    Kelly Iko, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • Several media outlets reported earlier this month that the Trump administration was preparing releasing the full audio.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • The Bidens announced Sunday the 46th president was battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
  • Stages 3 and 4, when the tumor has spread beyond the borders of the prostate, are considered more advanced and high risk.
    Luisel Ricks-Santi, The Conversation, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • The fact that GitHub is betting on Claude rather than a model from its parent company Microsoft (which has close ties to OpenAI) suggests Anthropic has built something genuinely competitive.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2025
  • An interactive attraction showing in Oakland until Sept. 28 is betting, yes indeed.
    Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • As a form bending, multi-disciplinary artist influenced by the Black Arts movement, Williams ascribes art as functional often using his platform to shed light on Cop Cities across the country, critique both American political parties and decry war and genocide.
    Nia Shumake, Essence, 15 May 2025
  • An Instagram account ascribed to Lanez said the rapper was stabbed 14 times — including seven wounds to his back, four to his torso, two to the back of his head and one to his face.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • He was buried at Penrose Cemetery in Byron, Wyoming, beside relatives, including his grandmother Cheryl.
    Dory Jackson, People.com, 19 May 2025
  • She was buried at what is now the park’s eastern end.
    Jack Schnedler, Arkansas Online, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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