lay out

1 to hand over or use up in payment he laid out big bucks for a new lawnmower that runs by itself Synonyms disburse, drop, expend, fork (over, out, or up), give, spend, outlay, pay, shell outRelated Words lavish, rain; blow, dissipate, fritter (away), run through, squander, throw away, wasteNear Antonyms cache, hoard, lay up, save; acquire, earn, gain, garner, make, procure, realize, secure, win

2 to work out the details of (something) in advance the transatlantic balloonists laid out a backup plan in case of an emergency Synonyms arrange, blueprint, budget, calculate, chart, choreograph, design, frame, plan, map (out), organize, prepare, project, scheme (out), shape, strategize (about)Related Words conspire, contrive, devise, intrigue, machinate, plot, put up; concert, get up; draft, outline, sketch; aim, figure, have on, intend, mean; contemplate, meditate, premeditate

3 to put into a particular arrangement plants in the botanical gardens are laid out according to biogeographic region Synonyms arrange, array, classify, codify, dispose, draw up, order, marshal (also marshall), organize, range, systematizeRelated Words groom, make up, spruce (up), straighten (up), tidy (up); unscramble; align (also aline), cue, line, line up, queue; alphabetize, file, hierarchize, prioritize, sequence; emplace, place, set; display, map (out), set outAntonyms derange, disarrange, disarray, disorder, mess (up), muss (up), rumple, upset

4 to present so as to invite notice or attention for the historic celebration, the museum laid out its full collection of native artifacts Synonyms display, disport, exhibit, expose, flash, flaunt, show, parade, produce, show off, sport, strut, unveilRelated Words brandish, flourish, wave; advertise, air, announce, blaze, broadcast, herald, placard, post, proclaim, publicize, sound, trumpet; divulge, talk (about), tell (of); bare, discover, reveal, uncloak, uncover, unmaskNear Antonyms camouflage, disguise, mask; conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, obscure, occlude, occult, shroud, veil