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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
The red mesh sack, of the kind typically used to store oranges or onions, is stamped with her name, immigration number and date of deportation.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
After years of sustained demand, the snack returned to store shelves in 2020.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kahnle, despite his status as a 12-year MLB veteran, can be stashed in Triple-A to start the season.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Afternoon and early-evening sessions, once thought safe, were infiltrated by those stashing weapons.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Female wasps can lay up to 200 eggs a day as long as a host insect is available.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
9 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 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
