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
For Dickinson, the greater challenge lay in finding the right tone to strike around the film’s sensitive subject matter of homelessness and mental health.
—
Liam Hess, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
According to scholar Nadia Margolis, the key to Christine’s success with her various projects lay in her acute awareness of existing in a men’s world with a dramatically unfair power imbalance.
—Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 23 Sep. 2025
When Nelson got up again, almost 40 shell casings lay in the street.
—Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
The real challenge lay in the mental aspects, the steep learning curve of a new sport.
—Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Liam Hess, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
According to scholar Nadia Margolis, the key to Christine’s success with her various projects lay in her acute awareness of existing in a men’s world with a dramatically unfair power imbalance.
—Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 23 Sep. 2025
When Nelson got up again, almost 40 shell casings lay in the street.
—Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
The real challenge lay in the mental aspects, the steep learning curve of a new sport.
—Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay in
Verb
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Rather than storing all of your cleaning supplies in one central cabinet, use a caddy to keep some cleaning supplies and tools in each bathroom.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Instead of storing the marbles from your childhood in a bin in your closet, put them in a jar on your bookshelf.—
Tessa Cooper,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Best to keep backups of all of that data stashed, cached, and out of harm’s way—and space makes an ideal safe deposit box.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
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Various zippered pockets inside the front flap are great for stashing smaller essentials, and a front pocket can fit a 13-inch laptop.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The only time the Fitzgerald made it to its homeport of Milwaukee was when the ship was laid up during the 1959 steel strike, from June to October.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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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,
28 Oct. 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 12 Jan. 2026.
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