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
Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
This year, Aftershock is continuing to offer layaway ticket purchases with just $1 down, as well as discounted four-day and single day passes to first responders, active duty military and medical professionals and nurses.
—Dave Brooks, Billboard, 5 Mar. 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
Others are stealthily looking for deals, sales, using layaway options and trading brand preferences for affordability.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
This year, Aftershock is continuing to offer layaway ticket purchases with just $1 down, as well as discounted four-day and single day passes to first responders, active duty military and medical professionals and nurses.
—Dave Brooks, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay away
Verb
-
Multiple items of evidence were also stored incorrectly—including Tate’s phone, which was left lying around the station while the case stalled.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
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By storing more energy within the same weight, future semi-solid-state batteries could help increase vehicle range without requiring larger battery packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Thirty-seven percent of lower-income Americans report using installment plans either frequently or occasionally, according to new Gallup polling.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
18 May 2026
-
At the time, the city offered businesses a 12-month installment plan to resolve their outstanding taxes.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Keeping a microfiber cloth handy or stashing disinfecting wipes under the sink makes this a fast, almost effortless ritual.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 June 2026
-
Nearby, the Rum Vault is a small room stashed with bottles and bottles of the spirit, arranged like a library according to the producing region.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
But this squad is much deeper than the one that lost the three-time MVP to a broken toe three seasons ago, and Bellinger deserves some credit for that.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2026
-
The lawsuit, filed in 2020, alleges that Trader Joe's violated the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) by printing the first 10 digits of customers' credit and debit card numbers on its receipts—most credit cards have 16 digits.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
On Saturday morning, those hopes lay in tatters.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
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Police now say that a former boyfriend, 47-year-old Juan Marquez of Hawthorne, lay in wait near her workplace, described on air as Families Together of Orange County.—
Jeff Horseman,
Oc Register,
17 May 2026
Verb
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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,
13 May 2026
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The neo-bluegrass musician took to social media Monday to post photos of himself laid up in a hospital bed, along with multiple X-rays of the nuts and bolts now holding his leg together.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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More than three times as many calls traded as puts by volume, and more calls were bought than sold, with more than 114,000 calls likely bought.—
Oliver Renick,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
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This tidal locking, simply put by the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is the result of the gravitational effect of the Earth on the Moon.—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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 10 Jun. 2026.
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