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
ABC News, 7 June 2026
Comprising more than 300 folktales and legends from northern Norway, including many from the coastal Sámi and the Skolt Sámi of eastern Finland, this anthology shares narratives told by fishers, farmers, reindeer herders, lay preachers and teachers.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
In addition to hosting health fairs, the network offers educational workshops, resources, health screenings and works with lay people in congregations to share information.
—Cassandra Spratling, Freep.com, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay
Verb
The tradition of laying flower carpets — and destroying them when the procession tramples them — dates back two centuries and is popular also in Latin America, where elaborate sand designs are also made.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
Comprising more than 300 folktales and legends from northern Norway, including many from the coastal Sámi and the Skolt Sámi of eastern Finland, this anthology shares narratives told by fishers, farmers, reindeer herders, lay preachers and teachers.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
Adjective
There is Muslim representation on the group's advisory board of lay leaders.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
In addition to hosting health fairs, the network offers educational workshops, resources, health screenings and works with lay people in congregations to share information.
—Cassandra Spratling, Freep.com, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay
Verb
-
The president’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act created a large new deduction for seniors, which put a major dent in one of Social Security’s major revenue sources — the income taxes on benefits paid by higher-income beneficiaries.—
Ben Ritz,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Reinforced with a silicone grip and soft-sided boning, this strapless bra stays put.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Serpell revels in all of the complications and contradictions of Toni Morrison, treating her subject with both reverence and even some skepticism and never settling for the easy conclusion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The package sets aside $875 million, including roughly $310 million from the state and $565 million in federal funding, to settle the issue.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The design was simple yet imposing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The proposal would require extensive recordkeeping and impose steep fines on repair shops, recyclers, pawn shops and secondhand dealers that traffic in undocumented airbags.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
While every ceremonial facilitator has their own unique way of preparing ayahuasca, most often two plants are brewed together (caapi vine and chacruna leaves) to create the highly powerful, transportive substance that can be used to treat physical and mental ailments.—
Michaela Trimble,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Jolie’s design-forward space has pops of pink and mint green, a wraparound bar, and an open kitchen where the four-course tasting menu is prepared.—
Dyana Lederman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The pop-up was announced by only one social media post, but word spread.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
-
Four bedrooms and five bathrooms are spread across roughly 6,200 square feet, where a floating glass staircase connects two switchback-style levels.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The acquirers aren’t betting on which model wins.—
Bhaskar Chakravorti,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
-
But the Patriots are betting on a slight bounce-back from Brown.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Another type of bacteria, Staphylococcus, was ascribed to the mummy’s microbiome.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
If wanting to ascribe feelings to the nonhuman world is an anthropocentric crime, the opposite—failure to ascribe feelings to animals, or to respond creatively to plants—seems much worse, entailing an inert, clockwork universe of mechanistic automata, in which humans are the only conscious actors.—
Jenny Odell,
Longreads,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Islamic law requires the deceased to be buried as soon as possible, and ideally within 24 hours of death, but exceptions are allowed, for example in time of war.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
13 June 2026
-
He’ll be buried there at the Imam Reza Shrine, considered the holiest place among Shiite devotees.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 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 14 Jun. 2026.
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