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 laic
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
John Werner, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
The president appoints one of the lay members for a five-year term, and the remaining members serve for six-year terms.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025
Tagle, who was also removed from his role, had been nominally president but was not involved in the day-to-day operations, which were overseen by a lay director-general.
—Philip Pullella, Crispian Balmer, Alvise Armellini, Joshua McElwee and Chris Scicluna, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for lay
Verb
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
The president appoints one of the lay members for a five-year term, and the remaining members serve for six-year terms.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025
Tagle, who was also removed from his role, had been nominally president but was not involved in the day-to-day operations, which were overseen by a lay director-general.
—Philip Pullella, Crispian Balmer, Alvise Armellini, Joshua McElwee and Chris Scicluna, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for lay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay
Verb
-
Performance reviews may require a personal touch, but AI can help HR leaders put together hiring managers’ or supervisors’ feedback into a proper framework.—
Julie Hoagland,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
All that effort has put more than 1.3 million asteroids in our catalogs, but astronomers expect Rubin to identify perhaps three times that many new objects—practically without trying.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
It was settled for an undisclosed amount in November 1995.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
1 July 2025
-
The Yellow Jackets settled for 7-6 a year ago with three of the losses to Louisville, Notre Dame and the unforgettable double-OT affair at Georgia.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Trump has set a July 9 deadline for imposing reciprocal tariffs, but trade talks have run into obstacles including discussions over duties on farm goods, steel and car parts.—
Jennifer Cunningham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
-
In early 2025, the U.S. imposed new tariffs on Canadian lumber, pushing duties as high as 35%.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Drink it in the sun to refresh while preparing, use it in your recipes to caramelize or sweeten and pair it to help your tongue handle when there’s a lot going on.—
Chelsea Davis,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
In The Old Guard 2, following on from the climax of the first film, Andy must come to terms with her newfound mortality while preparing to face a mysterious foe (played by Uma Thurman).—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
With the draft beginning this coming Sunday and the trade deadline at the end of the month, A.J. Preller’s closest lieutenants are in San Diego rather than spread around the country looking at big-league and amateur players.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 July 2025
-
Zoning, including single-family-exclusive zoning, first spread across the US in the early 20th century (before that, development was far more freewheeling and improvised).—
Marina Bolotnikova,
Vox,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
The attacking midfielder might be sacrificed as a starter against Bayern but don’t bet against him making a decisive contribution at some stage.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
-
The bitcoin price has soared toward its all-time high of $112,000 per bitcoin, with traders betting a looming Federal Reserve flip will turbo-charge the crypto market.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
The nation’s 2014 coup d’etat was commonly ascribed to a desire by the nation’s elites to micromanage the transition to King Vajiralongkorn.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
26 June 2025
-
The event drew filmmakers, actors, cinephiles, woodworkers, all fans who could be described in labels ascribed to Lynch himself.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Where power lines are buried, flooding can also cause issues.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
-
Meanwhile, every attempt to create ethical walls and accountability at PURA have been quietly buried by those who benefit from the dysfunction.—
Timothy M. Herbst,
Hartford Courant,
6 July 2025
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 11 Jul. 2025.
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