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
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 laying
That violence, along with forcing the closure of most of the capital’s hospitals, has left women, already facing risky births before gangs began laying siege to most neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, even more likely to die in childbirth.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
The fuller picture is something more like one effort laying the road while another figured out a more efficient way to drive it.
—Zachary Utz, STAT, 15 May 2026
Writers such as Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson published eloquent ecological and scientific rationales for wilderness preservation, wildlife management, and pollution control, laying the intellectual groundwork for the late 1960s and early ’70s boom in environmental legislation.
—John Reid, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
An Oklahoma inmate who was given a new trial after nearly three decades on death row has now been granted bond, laying the groundwork for his first release from prison since 1997.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Her visit will highlight the idea that the environment and human relationships that surround children are crucial to laying the foundations for a resilient and healthy future, Kensington Palace said in a statement.
—Silvia Stellacci, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Install fine mesh screens over drains to prevent adult flies from entering and laying eggs.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Our research suggests that integrating AI into team settings doesn’t happen naturally, and introducing AI into meetings without laying the proper groundwork can narrow participation, fragment discussions, or shift ownership away from the team.
—Gabriele Rosani, Harvard Business Review, 13 May 2026
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
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
The fuller picture is something more like one effort laying the road while another figured out a more efficient way to drive it.
—Zachary Utz, STAT, 15 May 2026
Writers such as Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson published eloquent ecological and scientific rationales for wilderness preservation, wildlife management, and pollution control, laying the intellectual groundwork for the late 1960s and early ’70s boom in environmental legislation.
—John Reid, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
An Oklahoma inmate who was given a new trial after nearly three decades on death row has now been granted bond, laying the groundwork for his first release from prison since 1997.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Her visit will highlight the idea that the environment and human relationships that surround children are crucial to laying the foundations for a resilient and healthy future, Kensington Palace said in a statement.
—Silvia Stellacci, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Install fine mesh screens over drains to prevent adult flies from entering and laying eggs.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Our research suggests that integrating AI into team settings doesn’t happen naturally, and introducing AI into meetings without laying the proper groundwork can narrow participation, fragment discussions, or shift ownership away from the team.
—Gabriele Rosani, Harvard Business Review, 13 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying
Verb
-
Certain federal debts can result in a portion of your Social Security check being garnished, ultimately putting your financial stability at risk in retirement.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
Louisa, all the producers and the writers are putting little inklings that are showing these sprinkles of just who John Tucker is that are going to snowball into things.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Rent one from Sea Panarea to discover hidden coves, sea caves, and the nearby islets of Basiluzzo and Lisca before settling in for sunset Negronis at the see-and-be-seen Bar del Porto.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
-
Others are settling for unpaid roles.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The momos at this Nepali hangout are imposing and as wrinkly as shar-peis.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
For the bulk of the armed forces, their main purpose has been preventing war by looking imposing rather than winning wars by fighting.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Today, the two South Asian neighbors remain on high alert amid tit-for-tat threats and reports that both sides are preparing for more war.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Mentally preparing was the most important thing, to stay calm and focused.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Houston Chronicle,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
-
Hantavirus misinformation is spreading fast.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Investors are betting this is more than phishing drills with an AI gloss.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Slok has previously invoked Jevons paradox to explain why AI will actually create more jobs overall, despite some employers attributing layoffs to the technology.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
-
At the time, the state geologist of Massachusetts and the American science establishment were incorrectly attributing the same landscape to an iceberg-laden catastrophic flood.—
Robert M. Thorson,
The Conversation,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Add veterans who raise the team’s competence without burying young players.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Laying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
