1
as in putting
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
just lay the book over there on the table for now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in settling
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)
the rain was just hard enough to lay the dust in the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in imposing
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in preparing
to make ready in advance
she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in spreading
to put a layer of on a surface
the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in betting
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event
I'll lay five dollars that you can't do it
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in attributing
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in burying
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
lay the corpse to rest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of laying
After laying a single egg inside the female puts some paralyzed caterpillars and beetle larvae which the larva will eat.
—
Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Communities have been laying the groundwork for offshore energy projects for years.
—Ben Link, The Conversation, 8 May 2026
Today, a lot fewer egg-laying hens have this problem than during the 1980s and 1990s, so eggs are safer.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 May 2026
As Chicago begins laying the groundwork for its next budget — amid warnings of deficits and difficult choices — the same familiar debate is taking shape.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Plus, the running water deters mosquitoes from laying eggs—unlike stillwater, which can become a breeding hotspot.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 May 2026
There was a further sign of Madrid laying the foundations for a new project in the talks held with Toni Kroos over a return to the Bernabeu, in a new role yet to be fully determined.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Iran has blocked transit by firing on ships attempting to pass and laying mines in the waterway.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 3 May 2026
And, barring a few jokes about speaking French and a somber wreath laying at the 9/11 memorial, the vibes are simply awkward, stilted and unsettled.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Communities have been laying the groundwork for offshore energy projects for years.
—Ben Link, The Conversation, 8 May 2026
Today, a lot fewer egg-laying hens have this problem than during the 1980s and 1990s, so eggs are safer.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 May 2026
As Chicago begins laying the groundwork for its next budget — amid warnings of deficits and difficult choices — the same familiar debate is taking shape.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Plus, the running water deters mosquitoes from laying eggs—unlike stillwater, which can become a breeding hotspot.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 May 2026
There was a further sign of Madrid laying the foundations for a new project in the talks held with Toni Kroos over a return to the Bernabeu, in a new role yet to be fully determined.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Iran has blocked transit by firing on ships attempting to pass and laying mines in the waterway.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 3 May 2026
And, barring a few jokes about speaking French and a somber wreath laying at the 9/11 memorial, the vibes are simply awkward, stilted and unsettled.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying
Verb
-
Former First Lady Laura Bush is credited with putting these delicious cookies—packed with oats, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips—on the map.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
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But putting people in an immersive environment to experience the tsunami without the deadly consequences of being there in person turned out to be the best way to help people grasp the scale.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Harvey Vaile had commissioned the house for his wife but never finished settling in, abandoning designs for the top floor after Sophia Vaile fatally overdosed on laudanum while Harvey was on trial.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
-
Sardinian bandits sometimes fought back with their own sense of justice, settling matters through raids, kidnappings, and violence.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Kim, who took power in 1946, reframed Christianity as a symptom of American imperialism and repurposed its rituals with himself at the center, instituting requirements for ideological activities and imposing harsh punishments on those who failed to show sufficient devotion.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The Wekiva River Parkway and Protection Act of 2004 authorized construction of a beltway around Central Florida, also known as State Road 429, while imposing strict protections for the environmentally fragile Wekiva River basin.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Those pitching-only days weren’t a regular occurrence when Ohtani was with the Angels, but now Ohtani is also preparing for what’s expected to be a deep postseason run.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
Alegría credited the pair’s experienced producing partners with helping guide them through the most unfamiliar process of preparing for the final cut and getting ready for the marketing, press, distribution conversations with Amazon as well as FilmNation.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
4 May 2026
Verb
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But a few weeks into his vacation across the Atlantic Ocean, the Oregon doctor jumped into action caring for passengers after a deadly hantavirus outbreak began spreading through the ship, sickening the vessel’s doctor.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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In spreading the wealth to a wider swath of hardware companies, investors are clearly betting that the bull market in AI has long legs and that data centers are going to need a wider array of advanced components for years to come.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Sports betting is exploding, so sports stations sell a ton of advertising to the betting apps, even without big ratings.—
Richard Wagoner,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
Suspiciously timed trades betting tens of millions or more on future oil prices have been made just before market-moving announcements from the White House.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The Jets tried to downplay the significance of Hellebuyck’s words, attributing them to normal emotions that follow a playoffs miss.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Ross defended the decision, pointing to the budget gap and attributing part of the shortfall to the Tarrant Appraisal District delaying new home assessments until next year.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Even worse, local governments are starting to follow suit, holding meetings and burying documents in secrecy when the truth is politically inconvenient.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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According to officials, a tank containing 50,000 gallons of asphalt failed and spilled, burying the victim under three feet of asphalt.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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