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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Recent Examples of lay up
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
Production came later, in 2014, when he was laid up in bed for three months with an illness.
—Elias Leight, Billboard, 13 June 2025
Both players once again laid up and were each lucky to even par the hole.
—Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025
Female cicadas can lay up to 600 eggs, inserting them into the branches of trees and shrubs with their ovipositor (egg-laying organ), according to the University of Massachusetts.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay up
Gareth McGrath, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Production came later, in 2014, when he was laid up in bed for three months with an illness.
—Elias Leight, Billboard, 13 June 2025
Both players once again laid up and were each lucky to even par the hole.
—Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025
Female cicadas can lay up to 600 eggs, inserting them into the branches of trees and shrubs with their ovipositor (egg-laying organ), according to the University of Massachusetts.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay up
Verb
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To store fresh dill leaves, wrap the cut dill stems loosely in a damp paper towel and store it in a resealable bag in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
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We, in collaboration with our partners, store and/or access information on a user's device, including but not limited to IP addresses, unique identifiers, and browsing data stored in cookies, in order to process personal data.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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From left: Katt Campbell lays in hospital with Lincoln on her chest; and shows her bump during the pregnancy.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
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When Nelson got up again, almost 40 shell casings lay in the street.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Today’s collectors treat vehicles more like art objects than modes of transportation, Gibson said, and often display them in galleries of honor rather than stashing them in the garage.—
Jackie Charniga,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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There were plenty of waiver stashes who didn’t hit, as well.—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 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 10 Sep. 2025.
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