as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
an eating disorder that would impel her to lay up candy bars in her closet for all-night food binges
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay up
The life cycle of a moth is 65 to 90 days, with female moths laying up to 300 eggs each.
—
Ellie Pithers, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025
But this bruin had laid up too much of his winter’s fat already.
—Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 13 Feb. 2025
These bears were laying up fat for their winter’s hibernation, and there must have been a dozen or so of them.
—Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 13 Feb. 2025
The Benedict sawmill is laid up due to the weather.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay up
Ellie Pithers, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2025
But this bruin had laid up too much of his winter’s fat already.
—Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 13 Feb. 2025
These bears were laying up fat for their winter’s hibernation, and there must have been a dozen or so of them.
—Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 13 Feb. 2025
The Benedict sawmill is laid up due to the weather.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay up
Verb
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Iran's Defense Ministry denied the claims, insisting no sensitive materials were stored there.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Originally used to store claymore mines and their accessories, the bag had been repurposed by McLean to carry supplies to men in the field.—
Made by History,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Benedict's body was laid in state in St. Peter's Basilica from January 2 to January 4, 2023, allowing thousands of mourners to pay their respects.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Apr. 2025
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The scientists found that, once cowbird eggs were laid in a warbler nest, if they were accepted, that nest was successful more than 95 percent of the time, meaning that warbler eggs were hatched.—
Nathan H. Lents,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Some investors have been pulling money out of stocks and stashing them in gold and crypto, which have sent the values of both soaring.—
Kevin Williams,
Quartz,
23 Apr. 2025
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Or, stash the money in a high-yield savings account.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20up. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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