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
While many countries still debate how electric air travel should work, China is already laying the foundation.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of people were detained in the days after Navalny’s death for simply laying flowers in his honor at memorials around Russia.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
In Washington, troops were routinely seen picking up trash, laying mulch in tourist areas and patrolling train platforms.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
The project became public in September, when the Major Arena Soccer League awarded the Sacramento region two soccer teams — one men’s and one women’s — and Rancho Cordova officials inked an initial deal laying the groundwork for public contributions of land and tax revenues.
—Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 13 Feb. 2026
If females are laying lots of eggs and the larvae that hatch are finding blood meals, then the table may be set the following year for more nymph-stage ticks, the poppy-seed-sized ones that are difficult to spot.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
Following the latest tranche of Epstein files coming to light on January 30, Sarah Ferguson has been laying low in the French Alps and then the United Arab Emirates, new reporting from The Daily Mail’s Rebecca English revealed.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of people gathered at a public square in Tumbler Ridge on Wednesday night, holding candles and laying flowers at a community vigil.
—Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Inspired by this biological principle, scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed the first modern self-healing polymer in 2001, thus laying the foundation for today’s rapidly expanding field of self-healing materials.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of people were detained in the days after Navalny’s death for simply laying flowers in his honor at memorials around Russia.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
In Washington, troops were routinely seen picking up trash, laying mulch in tourist areas and patrolling train platforms.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
The project became public in September, when the Major Arena Soccer League awarded the Sacramento region two soccer teams — one men’s and one women’s — and Rancho Cordova officials inked an initial deal laying the groundwork for public contributions of land and tax revenues.
—Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 13 Feb. 2026
If females are laying lots of eggs and the larvae that hatch are finding blood meals, then the table may be set the following year for more nymph-stage ticks, the poppy-seed-sized ones that are difficult to spot.
—Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
Following the latest tranche of Epstein files coming to light on January 30, Sarah Ferguson has been laying low in the French Alps and then the United Arab Emirates, new reporting from The Daily Mail’s Rebecca English revealed.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 11 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of people gathered at a public square in Tumbler Ridge on Wednesday night, holding candles and laying flowers at a community vigil.
—Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Inspired by this biological principle, scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed the first modern self-healing polymer in 2001, thus laying the foundation for today’s rapidly expanding field of self-healing materials.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying
Verb
-
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez voted against the measure, arguing the council had not done its job to reduce spending elsewhere before putting taxes on the ballot.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The goal is to engage kids in learning about history and civic engagement while putting them on a path to potentially work in the music industry, said the department’s Chief Academic Officer Irene Parisi.—
Theo Peck-Suzuki,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ireland, the Steelers and the Rooney connection The Rooney family, the Steelers’ majority owners, trace their roots to Ireland, where their ancestors emigrated from in the 1840s before eventually settling in Pittsburgh.—
Tom Chitty,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
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Tripp’s writing has become less brutally pointed as his music has become looser, settling into a form of vibey psych-rock that’s nearly unrecognizable from Angel Du$t’s Ramones-via-Bad Brains origins.—
Eli Enis,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Couple his extroverted on-pitch personality and his, in theory, imposing 6ft 4in (195cm) frame that can be equally languid and driving in style, Onana should have all the characteristics to play among the elite.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Last year, Republicans passed legislation to reduce spending on federal health programs and food assistance, largely by imposing work requirements on people receiving aid and by shifting certain costs onto the states.—
ALI SWENSON,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Levy Restaurants was reportedly only preparing 200 for Sunday’s game day.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The agency is preparing to send four astronauts back to the Moon this March on a high-stakes, ten-day mission to the far side.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Measles is now spreading in Florida, with 68 cases reported in the state already this year.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Be generous when spreading the chocolate frosting on this one.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Star Sports, another platform, has suspended betting on Starmer stepping down before the next general election, giving the prospect an 89% chance.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
-
To be sure, some investors are betting that the enormous build out will eventually translate into revenue and profits.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some Republicans, including Senator Tim Scott, called for the post to be removed, though the White House’s initial framing treated the matter as a misunderstanding rather than intentional misconduct, later attributing it to a mistake by a staffer after initially defending it as a meme.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Public and private market investors have indiscriminately been attributing huge premiums to AI companies, and the party continues — the music is still playing and people are still dancing.—
Mikael Johnsson,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And they are not remotely prepared when Harper’s firm puts its full weight behind burying them.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Kabir joined in burying several of his close friends in Woro.—
Pelumi Salako,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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