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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay in
The 15-year-old shelter dog laying in his kennel at the Carson Animal Shelter.
—
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Seeking to improve on that proof-of-concept method, a UNSW team realized that the key lay in finding the right combination of metals to act as a catalyst in the system.
—New Atlas, 20 June 2025
Fans got more into this match as the women laid in their strikes.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
For far too long, that career path has been available only to men, and this stadium will only further gild the golden pathway being laid in this nation for women at the top of their sports.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Seeking to improve on that proof-of-concept method, a UNSW team realized that the key lay in finding the right combination of metals to act as a catalyst in the system.
—New Atlas, 20 June 2025
Fans got more into this match as the women laid in their strikes.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
For far too long, that career path has been available only to men, and this stadium will only further gild the golden pathway being laid in this nation for women at the top of their sports.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay in
Verb
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However, storing and releasing energy day after day causes inevitable wear and tear.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 July 2025
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Ask for explicit details on where your data will be processed and stored, whether the vendor brings in other third parties, like infrastructure or analytics providers, and what controls are in place for cross-border data transfers.—
Khash Kiani,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
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There’s even an opening in the back for cord management, making this an ideal place to stash your home’s unsightly Wi-Fi equipment.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
3 July 2025
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Each piece, from pipes to bubblers to stash jars, is handmade in Chile.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Considering a mature colony can include up to 400,000 worker ants, a queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs a day, and that there can be several colonies per acre of land, fire ants can sometimes seem like the perfect pest.—
Gareth McGrath,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
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Females can lay up to 100 eggs during a lifetime, which hatch in three to six weeks.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
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 Jul. 2025.
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