as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
be sure to lay in enough food for the long Alaska winter
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Recent Examples of lay in
His solution lay in James Hanson, a striker who had been plucked from non-League — and, as City fans used to love singing, his day job as a shelf-stacker at the Co-op supermarket — by then-manager Stuart McCall six and a half years earlier.
—
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Rose gobbled it up, lay in my arms and not long after was at rest.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
The second fragment of fabric (Tx2) lay in a large domestic house—also destroyed by fire—which contained six rooms lined with storage vessels and clay chests.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Feb. 2026
Colleyville Heritage dumps Argyle in 2 OTs Colleyville Heritage got a hugh lay in by Sameer Johnson at the fourth quarter buzzer, off an assist by Dmauri Evans, to tie the game at 48 allowing the Panthers to subdue Argyle 57-51 in double overtime on Thursday.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Rose gobbled it up, lay in my arms and not long after was at rest.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
The second fragment of fabric (Tx2) lay in a large domestic house—also destroyed by fire—which contained six rooms lined with storage vessels and clay chests.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Feb. 2026
Colleyville Heritage dumps Argyle in 2 OTs Colleyville Heritage got a hugh lay in by Sameer Johnson at the fourth quarter buzzer, off an assist by Dmauri Evans, to tie the game at 48 allowing the Panthers to subdue Argyle 57-51 in double overtime on Thursday.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay in
Verb
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To protect your electronics and prevent damage, store them in a cool and dry environment.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
13 Apr. 2026
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The new seats will also have a new pillow-top cushion and plenty of spots to store your in-flight goods, from a shoe cubby to an eyeglass holder.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Clear towels and bathrobes from the back of the door, and stash personal medications in a cabinet.—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
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Keep a batch in the refrigerator for after-school bites, post-workout fuel or an afternoon pick-me-up with coffee, or stash them in the freezer for longer storage.—
Laura Mclively,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But thanks to their reproductive vigor — females can lay up to 25,000 eggs in a single season — their numbers quickly hopped out of hand.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Summit's Javon Ross (33) lays up a ball as Lovejoy's Maddox Johnson (2) defends in the second half of a high school basketball game, Class 5A Division II state semifinal, at SUM’s Moody Coliseum, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in University Park.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20in. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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