1
as in to 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
3
as in to impose
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 to prepare
to make ready in advance
she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
7
as in to ascribe
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 to bury
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
lay the corpse to rest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in ballad
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
she sang a short lay in dedication to her husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in work
the activity by which one regularly makes a living
my main lay is as a general contractor, but I do side work as a carpenter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in godless
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of lay
Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
The mind can’t help but wonder what others would make of the fragments of my own life laid bare in this way, which feels somehow exposing and anonymous all at once.
—Zoey Goto, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
The meaning is not something that a lay person can necessarily intuit.
—John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay
Verb
Those suits not only dredged up dark secrets dating back years but also laid the foundation for their federal criminal case.
—Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
The mind can’t help but wonder what others would make of the fragments of my own life laid bare in this way, which feels somehow exposing and anonymous all at once.
—Zoey Goto, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Delbarton publicly acknowledged in 2018 that at least 30 men had come forward with allegations that, over three decades, 13 past or current priests and monks at the school had victimized them — in addition to a lay faculty member who is now retired.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
The meaning is not something that a lay person can necessarily intuit.
—John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay
Verb
-
Matthews left the game immediately, without putting any weight on the leg, and wasn’t able to return.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Consecutive victories over the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves put the Lakers back in the contender conversation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some are fearful, however, that an old pattern of extraction without development may be settling in.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
TikTok and Snap were also named defendants in the lawsuit, but settled before the trial began.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
More importantly, the law imposes a hard ceiling of 150 days.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
She was becoming influenced by social scientists such as the French philosopher Auguste Comte, who were less concerned with enshrining individual rights than with imposing a social order—a departure from her earlier universalist thinking.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After a flight failure in March 2025, the German firm, Isar Aerospace, is preparing for its second Spectrum launch, currently scheduled for no earlier than March 19, 2026, from Andøya, Norway.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Kim’s fresh push to be recognized as a nuclear state comes as the US president prepares a visit to the region in coming weeks that will include a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.—
Soo-hyang Choi,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During a pre-launch hot-fire test, an anomaly in a single engine triggered a catastrophic fire that spread throughout the first stage.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The Board accused him of spreading misinformation about COVID-19, but moved to return his certification a few months later.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Saudi Aramco’s shares rose the most in more than two years as investors bet that the rise in oil prices could offset declines in exports, Bloomberg reported.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Inflation fears have led traders to scale back expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next quarter-point rate cut to September, with some bond options traders betting the Fed may not cut rates at all this year.—
Marcus Wong,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And to dust off some golden-oldie phraseology that fans, friends and media often ascribe to great athletes who’ve made epic falls, Ilia Malinin will be back.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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However, the benefits the city has ascribed to data center development have not assuaged concerns about potential environmental harm.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Like your mother’s complacency, which was probably buried in your gene code somewhere.—
Addie Citchens,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Said to be the first person buried on the hill that became Oakwood Cemetery, the city's oldest, he was killed while traveling between Bastrop and Austin.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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