1
as in format
the way in which something is sized, arranged, or organized
the decorator changed the layout of the living room three times before declaring it finished
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in design
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged
the layout of his portraits typically consists of a finely drawn subject against a roughly sketched background
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to spend
to hand over or use up in payment
he laid out big bucks for a new lawnmower that runs by itself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plan
to work out the details of (something) in advance
the transatlantic balloonists laid out a backup plan in case of an emergency
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to classify
to put into a particular arrangement
plants in the botanical gardens are laid out according to biogeographic region
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to display
to present so as to invite notice or attention
for the historic celebration, the museum laid out its full collection of native artifacts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 layout
Kayla Levy,
Curbed,
25 June 2026
Unlike conventional transistor layouts, nanostack vertically stacks and staggers transistors, allowing more components to be integrated within the same footprint.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
25 June 2026
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
The advisory suggests that parents create family media plans that lay out exactly how and when screens can be used in the home and urges health care providers to ask patients about their screen use.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for layout
Noun
The layout is ideal for the two moms; Gonzalez and Sinclaire each have a bedroom on opposite sides of the house, and the third bedroom is the kids’ room, which has a bunk bed for Marcos, 9, and Sophia, 7.
—
Kayla Levy,
Curbed,
25 June 2026
Unlike conventional transistor layouts, nanostack vertically stacks and staggers transistors, allowing more components to be integrated within the same footprint.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
25 June 2026
Verb
The unsealed federal indictment and a 465-page affidavit lay out charges against the 26 members, including the leader of the Lawrence chapter of the Trinitarios Yordali Yorro and other senior members, authorities stated in a press conference announcing the sweeping bust Tuesday morning.
—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
The advisory suggests that parents create family media plans that lay out exactly how and when screens can be used in the home and urges health care providers to ask patients about their screen use.
—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for layout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for layout
Noun
-
In Paris, Cook’n With Class offers two formats.
-
Creators already have passionate communities who want to follow them across formats.
Noun
-
Instead of a hallway of bedrooms under a single roof, the sleeping spaces are dispersed across the property, each with direct access to the gardens — a design more commonly found in tropical destinations than in a tony coastal enclave about 35 miles north of San Francisco.
-
The production design floored me.
Verb
-
Nowadays, Monson de Kansky still keeps busy, whether by managing the Sierra Madre property; spending time with her four children, six grandchildren and cat, Lizzie; keeping up with current affairs and old friends; or, naturally, teaching dance.
-
Workers were dispatched throughout La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent the last few days pulling survivors and bodies from the wreckage despite a lack of heavy equipment and limited guidance from authorities.
Verb
-
Future projects being planned in the central city for delivery over the next five years will include other office-to-apartment conversions and new housing built from the ground up.
-
Lawmakers plan to direct the Department of Finance to present the Legislature with options for how to do that.
Verb
-
Companies need to have an airtight hold on their own sourcing data—an understanding not only of where the materials and inputs are coming from, but how to substantiate their claims and classify customs entries with precision.
-
Gambling disorder is now classified in the same section in the DSM as substance abuse disorders because of the similarities in clinical presentation and treatment.
Verb
-
Content resided on websites, and monetization depended on attracting human readers to specific digital locations where ads could be displayed.
-
The landlord will then have to pay upfront and bill the applicant with a receipt displaying the third-party vendor cost within 14 days.
Noun
-
Household formation has fallen sharply since the pandemic, according to a report released earlier in June.
-
His proposal had underscored the shaky autonomy of the civilian group, which has clashed with the police officers union, city leaders and former chiefs — not to mention internal strife between commissioners — in the decade since voters overwhelmingly approved its formation.
Noun
-
Down the hall, the bedroom’s mostly white design theme returns to a more serene composition, providing a quiet sanctuary.
-
The composition reflects Rockwell’s fascination with the dichotomy between what people see and what operates behind the scenes, said Stephanie Plunkett, chief curator at the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Layout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/layout. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
