as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
the weather forecast warned of a severe storm, so we laid away a generous supply of bottled water and canned food just in case
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in installment plan
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay away
Tom Hyland, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021
Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
This year, Aftershock is continuing to offer layaway ticket purchases with just $1 down, as well as discounted four-day and single day passes to first responders, active duty military and medical professionals and nurses.
—Dave Brooks, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay away
Verb
Yet, despite the tannins, Freisa is not a wine to lay away in most examples, but rather one that should be enjoyed early on, often chilled, with soups, seafood or lighter meats.
—Tom Hyland, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021
Noun
Others are stealthily looking for deals, sales, using layaway options and trading brand preferences for affordability.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
This year, Aftershock is continuing to offer layaway ticket purchases with just $1 down, as well as discounted four-day and single day passes to first responders, active duty military and medical professionals and nurses.
—Dave Brooks, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay away
Verb
-
Engineers had to come up with their own substitutes for some of the basic tools that other developers use to store code, launch websites, and set up servers.—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
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Then the samples sat in an incubator for over 1,000 days, as the researchers focused on their other experiments into how microbes process and store carbon in soil.—
Siddhant Pusdekar,
Quanta Magazine,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Thirty-seven percent of lower-income Americans report using installment plans either frequently or occasionally, according to new Gallup polling.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
18 May 2026
-
At the time, the city offered businesses a 12-month installment plan to resolve their outstanding taxes.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The former officer was accused of secretly stashing millions of dollars in gold bars in his home, according to court documents and two people familiar with his employment history.—
Jeremy Mikula,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
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The three‑zipper layout keeps clothing, tech, and toiletries neatly separated, while interior pockets stash small essentials.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Depending on your situation, options such as debt settlement, debt consolidation or credit counseling could help make repayment more manageable and reduce the likelihood of aggressive collection actions in the future.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
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OneMain provides personal installment loans to millions of Americans, many of whom have nonprime credit scores.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
On Saturday morning, those hopes lay in tatters.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
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Police now say that a former boyfriend, 47-year-old Juan Marquez of Hawthorne, lay in wait near her workplace, described on air as Families Together of Orange County.—
Jeff Horseman,
Oc Register,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Female moths can lay up to 500 eggs at a time.7 Pantry moths are most destructive in their larval stage, so discouraging this stage will help prevent the infestation from spreading.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
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The neo-bluegrass musician took to social media Monday to post photos of himself laid up in a hospital bed, along with multiple X-rays of the nuts and bolts now holding his leg together.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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More than three times as many calls traded as puts by volume, and more calls were bought than sold, with more than 114,000 calls likely bought.—
Oliver Renick,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
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This tidal locking, simply put by the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is the result of the gravitational effect of the Earth on the Moon.—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20away. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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