as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
the weather forecast warned of a severe storm, so we laid away a generous supply of bottled water and canned food just in case
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in installment plan
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay away
Tom Hyland, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021
Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2025
Adopted from South Korea as a baby, she was raised lovingly by parents who did their best, recalling a home where household goods were often purchased on layaway.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay away
Verb
Yet, despite the tannins, Freisa is not a wine to lay away in most examples, but rather one that should be enjoyed early on, often chilled, with soups, seafood or lighter meats.
—Tom Hyland, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021
Noun
There is also a layaway plan for single-day general admission tickets that starts at $50.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2025
Adopted from South Korea as a baby, she was raised lovingly by parents who did their best, recalling a home where household goods were often purchased on layaway.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay away
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
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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
Noun
-
The problem is that those installment plans don't exist in isolation.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Installment terms Your installment plan can range from as short as three months up to 12 months.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
1 Dec. 2025
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
-
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
Noun
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But while the recipients' cards had balances available to spend through lines of credit, the Treasury had rejected sending money to cover those purchases to grocers and other businesses that accept such cards, according to an Evers administration official.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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And special credit goes to Payne, who caught two passes for 37 yards and the one TD despite playing with a brace on his right hand.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Another affinity between the Romanians and the Iraqis lay in the fact that both knew the difficulties of living under a dictatorship.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
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Everyone knew what future lay in store for the bottom 10 percent.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
Flip the script and set up an entryway for staying put by placing a comfy daybed by the door.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
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Shares jumped nearly 9% on the news Friday and traded roughly 2½ times the average daily options volume, with calls outpacing puts by well over 4:1.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
21 July 2025
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20away. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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