as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
be sure to lay in enough food for the long Alaska winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 lay in
The patient lay in an operating room at St Bernard's Hospital.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
His solution lay in James Hanson, a striker who had been plucked from non-League — and, as City fans used to love singing, his day job as a shelf-stacker at the Co-op supermarket — by then-manager Stuart McCall six and a half years earlier.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Rose gobbled it up, lay in my arms and not long after was at rest.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
The second fragment of fabric (Tx2) lay in a large domestic house—also destroyed by fire—which contained six rooms lined with storage vessels and clay chests.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
His solution lay in James Hanson, a striker who had been plucked from non-League — and, as City fans used to love singing, his day job as a shelf-stacker at the Co-op supermarket — by then-manager Stuart McCall six and a half years earlier.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Rose gobbled it up, lay in my arms and not long after was at rest.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2026
The second fragment of fabric (Tx2) lay in a large domestic house—also destroyed by fire—which contained six rooms lined with storage vessels and clay chests.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay in
Verb
-
Inspired by three new Chessmen flavors — Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Sugar and Brown Butter Pecan — the board reflects a color palette of rich caramel and brown butter hues, while also incorporating a hidden compartment in the base that’s perfect for storing cookies.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Plus these new collectors really do intend to use their design pieces, not store them in a tax-free haven across the Atlantic.—
David Lê,
Curbed,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It’s made with the same buttery-soft fabric as the pique pants and features two hand pockets for stashing your everyday essentials.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Apr. 2026
-
If your larger pieces are already in the perfect spot, consider using small organization tools like trays or shelves that add extra space to display collectibles, stash your keys or otherwise keep your tabletops neat while offering a pop of color or print.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But thanks to their reproductive vigor — females can lay up to 25,000 eggs in a single season — their numbers quickly hopped out of hand.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Summit's Javon Ross (33) lays up a ball as Lovejoy's Maddox Johnson (2) defends in the second half of a high school basketball game, Class 5A Division II state semifinal, at SUM’s Moody Coliseum, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in University Park.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20in. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
