Synonyms of lay

lay 1 of 4

verb

ˈlā 

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

• put
• situate
• place
• position
• locate
• stick
• deposit
• dispose
• set
• set up
• depose
• fix
• emplace
• establish
• park
• plant
• move
• slap
• orient
• shift
• rearrange
• clap
• assemble
• lock
• carry
• plop
• collect
• reorder
• plunk
• niche
• settle
• affix
• plump
• line up
• lay out
• rank
• anchor
• ensconce
• wedge
• plank
• plunk down
• set down
• flop
• lodge
• array
• berth
• queue

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• take
• remove
• relocate
• replace
• displace
• banish
• supersede
• supplant
• dislodge

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

• settle
• clear
• filter
• sift
• clarify
• sediment
• screen
• strain
• sieve
• resettle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• raise
• mix
• stir
• disturb
• agitate

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

• impose
• charge
• put
• fine
• levy
• assess
• exact
• dock
• tax
• penalize
• compel
• wring
• gouge
• extort
• inflict
• force
• skin
• excise
• coerce
• wrest
• bleed
• squeeze
• milk
• wreak
• shake down
• mulct
• fleece
• set
• relay
• reapply
• reimpose

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remit
• diminish
• lessen
• ignore
• forgive
• release
• abate
• excuse
• disregard
• pardon
• condone
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)

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

• prepare
• ready
• furnish
• provide
• arrange
• fortify
• fit
• equip
• fix
• prep
• groom
• gather
• steel
• mount
• educate
• instruct
• prime
• supply
• train
• brace
• set
• spread
• gird
• arm
• school
• boot (up)
• predispose
• indoctrinate
• draw up
• batten
• gear up
• incline
• tutor
• warm (up)
• frame
• draft
• forearm
• outfit

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

• spread
• apply
• smear
• sheet
• lay on
• coat
• layer
• anoint
• plaster
• dab
• slather
• blanket
• daub
• surface
• bedaub
• carpet
• cover
• besmear
• overlay
• overlie
• overspread
• mantle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expose
• uncover
• strip
• bare
• peel

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• put
• bet
• wager
• play
• offer
• go
• stake
• gamble
• bid
• speculate
• venture
• adventure
• jeopardize
• endanger
• chance
• hazard
• imperil

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

• ascribe
• attribute
• blame
• credit
• impute
• refer
• put down
• chalk up
• pin (on)
• connect
• attach
• assign
• link
• accredit
• impute (to)
• charge
• associate
• father (on)

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

• bury
• inter
• tomb
• entomb
• hide
• put away
• inhume
• conceal
• hearse
• enshrine
• ensconce
• shield
• shade
• curtain
• cover
• obscure
• coffin
• cloak
• inurn
• enshroud
• immure
• shroud
• rebury
• reinter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unearth
• burn
• reveal
• show
• exhume
• bare
• discover
• expose
• disinter
• disclose
• display
• exhibit
• cremate
• uncoffin

lay

2 of 4

noun (1)

ˈlā 

1

as in melody

a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect

the minstrel strummed a cheerful lay on his lute

Synonyms & Similar Words

• melody
• song
• tune
• air
• hymn
• strain
• warble
• rhythm
• ballad
• meter
• lyric
• measure
• cadence
• descant
• madrigal
• ditty

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

• ballad
• song
• hymn
• vocal
• lullaby
• jingle
• lyric
• anthem
• ditty
• chorus
• carol
• psalm
• cantata
• pop
• serenade
• spiritual
• chorale
• requiem
• round
• chant
• paean
• medley
• folk song
• lament
• rocker
• dirge
• blues
• art song
• aria
• croon
• glee
• fight song
• canticle
• hallelujah
• drinking song
• threnody
• descant
• roundelay
• standard
• cover
• madrigal
• noel
• part-song
• motet
• chanson
• torch song
• barcarole
• remix
• chantey

lay

3 of 4

noun (2)

ˈlā 

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

• work
• profession
• line
• occupation
• vocation
• employment
• calling
• trade
• game
• job
• duty
• place
• call
• living
• position
• task
• mission
• business
• field
• assignment
• livelihood
• office
• enterprise
• load
• art
• function
• racket
• engagement
• lifework
• situation
• craft
• post
• gig
• appointment
• billet
• workload
• métier
• berth
• handicraft
• handcraft

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pursuit
• hobby
• avocation

lay

4 of 4

adjective

as in godless

Related Words

• godless
• pagan
• irreligious
• atheistic
• nonclerical
• earthly
• secular
• paganish
• laical
• temporal
• physical
• nondenominational
• worldly
• nonsectarian
• substantial
• terrestrial
• religionless
• bodily
• mundane
• profane
• corporal
• unhallowed
• nonreligious
• terrene
• material
• unconsecrated
• impious
• fleshly
• sacrilegious
• carnal
• blasphemous
• irreverent

Dissimilar Words

• religious
• sacred
• spiritual
• divine
• holy
• consecrated
• hallowed
• pious
• devout
• prayerful
• godly
• reverent
• sacrosanct
• metaphysical
• worshipful
• immaterial
• insubstantial
• sanctified
• ethereal
• unsubstantial
• incorporeal
• churchly
• nonphysical
• bodiless

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lay

Verb

Martha Nashieli, one of Ángel’s daughters, remembers arriving at the cemetery to lay flowers at father’s grave a few years ago, only to be forced to wait outside due to the volume of visitors. — Rocio Muñoz Ledo, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2026

What began with a 5-acre parcel, 11 laying hens and 30 meat birds has since grown into an 18-acre farm that spans their home property and multiple land leases. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Understanding the patterns of play — with all the zigzagging of the tacks and jibes — is not easy for the lay viewer. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 28 May 2026

However, lay reading is not the way that people have, historically speaking, interfaced with the classics. — Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Phrases Containing lay

• lay an egg
• lay away
• lay by
• lay down
• lay eyes on
• lay figure
• lay hold of
• lay in
• lay into
• lay off
• lay off (of)
• lay on
• lay out
• lay over
• lay siege to
• lay up

Video

Lay vs. Lie

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to Ask the Editor. I'm Emily Brewster, an associate editor at Merriam-Webster.
 
Sometimes we tell you that certain grammar rules are little more than the Latin-inspired whims of long dead grammarians. But not so with the verbs lay and lie. This pair is a doozy that's been tripping up English speakers for 700 years.
 
Lay's most common meaning is, to place something or someone down in a flat position. Lie's corresponding meaning is, to be in a flat position on a surface.
 
Lay is transitive. It requires that the verb have an object. There has to be a thing or a person being placed.
- Lay it down.
 
Lie, on the other hand, is intransitive. It's for something or someone moving on their own. Or something or someone that's already in position.
- You can lie down there.
- You can lie there all day.
 
That's tricky enough, but it gets worse when we start using the words beyond the now.
 
Here's lay in context in tenses that show its principal forms.
- I was told to lay the book down.
- I laid it down as I have laid other books down.
- I am laying more books down now.
 
And here's lie.
- I was told to lie down.
- I lay down.
- I have lain here since.
- I'm still lying here.
 
Did you catch that?
 
For lay, we have lay, laid, have laid, laying.
For lie, we have lie, lay, have lain, lying.
 
And then there's the unrelated verb meaning to tell an untruth.
That lie goes, lie, lied, have lied, lying.
 
What fascinates me about all this is that the language has continued to carry a torch for the distinction for 700 years. Enough writers and editors get these right generation after generation, that there continues to be a right and a wrong. It's not because dead grammarians said so, but because people like you get it right, often enough anyway, that it's still how the land lays.
 
I mean lies.
 
For more Ask the Editor videos, click on the videos tab at merriam-webster.com.