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
The president inquired about feedback to his State of the Union address, laying into the Democrats for not standing up at key points.
—
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
That request was granted Monday, March 2, with a private, then public service — including a wreath-laying — planned at the statehouse rotunda.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Chickens roam a fenced enclosure, laying eggs that appear in dishes at Sunday brunch.
—Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
While the game remained popular among the elite its ornate imagery also continued to fascinate artists and intellectuals, laying the groundwork for symbolic interpretations.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
If it's been a while since the silver has seen the sun, give it a good clean before laying it out for family dinner.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Feb. 2026
Attendees get first pick of rare, exotic and best egg-laying breeds.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Last winter, the avian flu swept the country, killing 70 million egg-laying birds, according to Metz.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Epstein thought laying low was the best option but was being pressured to comment by some of his associates who were facing questions.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
That request was granted Monday, March 2, with a private, then public service — including a wreath-laying — planned at the statehouse rotunda.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Chickens roam a fenced enclosure, laying eggs that appear in dishes at Sunday brunch.
—Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
While the game remained popular among the elite its ornate imagery also continued to fascinate artists and intellectuals, laying the groundwork for symbolic interpretations.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
If it's been a while since the silver has seen the sun, give it a good clean before laying it out for family dinner.
—Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Feb. 2026
Attendees get first pick of rare, exotic and best egg-laying breeds.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Last winter, the avian flu swept the country, killing 70 million egg-laying birds, according to Metz.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Epstein thought laying low was the best option but was being pressured to comment by some of his associates who were facing questions.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying
Verb
-
SpaceX has actually recently floated the idea of a data center in our planet's orbit, which would involve putting something like a million more satellites up there.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Then in December, one of the town’s largest employers, Roseburg Forest Products, shut down its veneer mill, putting 140 employees out of work.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lawmakers are settling in for a week of housing debates and efforts to limit the sharing of Big Data.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
-
This coastal beach town’s sophistication never tipped into stuffiness, and the relaxation never felt like settling.—
Lisa A. Beach,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The other bill — Senate Bill 102 — would offer no incentives, instead imposing regulations on all large data center development across the state.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2026
-
At the beginning of the revolution in Manbij, almost no one called for imposing Sharia.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nvidia's powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) are best known for their capabilities in training, the process of preparing AI models to handle real-world tasks.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
-
European organizations are now focused on accelerating returns on AI investments while preparing for EU AI Act compliance.—
Dave McCann,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On Saturday, March 7, demonstrations will be held in cities nationwide, pushing for people of all walks of life to stand together in protecting and spreading awareness for victims of human trafficking.—
Elaine Rojas-Castillo,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The arrangement did not prevent rumors from spreading, however, and becoming a major distraction for the department.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some risks greater than 2022 Although the market is currently betting against a scenario that could mimic the 2022 oil and gasoline price shock, prices could still surge.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Caesars offers betting action on the Rockets at both its online and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 2021, San Diego prosecutors unsealed an indictment attributing an explosion of violence in Tijuana to a criminal cell known as Los Cabos, who allegedly acted as a brutal enforcement arm of the CJNG.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
In mid-February, Publishers Weekly reported that a hundred thousand copies of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel had sold in the first two months of this year, compared with a hundred and eighty thousand total last year, attributing the increase to book clubs and influencers of all stripes embracing it.—
Radhika Jones,
New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Orlando City went down a man in the 88th minute when Colin Guske was handed a second yellow card for a foul on Messi, who two minutes later scored the fourth Miami goal, burying his free kick to complete the brace.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Spread out the roots and plant the hosta divisions at the same depth they were originally planted, without burying the crown.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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