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
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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
By securing this agreement, Hyundai Heavy Industries is laying the groundwork for further involvement in the energy sector.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
However, the warring parties failed to start second round of talks in Islamabad this week, laying bare key sticking points to a definitive resolution to the fighting.
—Alayna Treene, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Iran eventually responded with a concerted campaign of its own against ships in the region, including laying mines.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
There is a much celebrated photo of Carvajal, aged 12, laying the ceremonial foundation stone for their training ground, accompanied by the legendary Alfredo di Stefano.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Unlike down puffer jackets, those with synthetic fill can be successfully air-dried by laying the jacket flat on a clean towel.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
Reassembling the silos started with laying the concrete floor, including plumbing and drainage.
—Joe Marusak
april 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, SpaceX has been laying the groundwork for huge upgrades to Starlink Mobile, which is currently available from T-Mobile, but with limited bandwidth.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026
The case centers around the federal Employee Retention Tax Credit, a program created by Congress in 2020 to reward employers for not laying people off during the pandemic.
—Angela Palermo
april 11, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2026
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
However, the warring parties failed to start second round of talks in Islamabad this week, laying bare key sticking points to a definitive resolution to the fighting.
—Alayna Treene, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Iran eventually responded with a concerted campaign of its own against ships in the region, including laying mines.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
There is a much celebrated photo of Carvajal, aged 12, laying the ceremonial foundation stone for their training ground, accompanied by the legendary Alfredo di Stefano.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Unlike down puffer jackets, those with synthetic fill can be successfully air-dried by laying the jacket flat on a clean towel.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
Reassembling the silos started with laying the concrete floor, including plumbing and drainage.
—Joe Marusak
april 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, SpaceX has been laying the groundwork for huge upgrades to Starlink Mobile, which is currently available from T-Mobile, but with limited bandwidth.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026
The case centers around the federal Employee Retention Tax Credit, a program created by Congress in 2020 to reward employers for not laying people off during the pandemic.
—Angela Palermo
april 11, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying
Verb
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In between, Michael Carrick took United to Stamford Bridge and won, putting the club on the brink of Champions League qualification.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Longtime friends and streetwear giants Nigo and Jun Takahashi are putting their minds together once again — and now with Nike in the mix.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Baltimore sues pharmaceutical companies In 208, Baltimore sued several drug makers and pharmaceutical companies, often settling before reaching a trial.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Notify creditors and allow time for claims to be filed before settling debts.—
Nancy Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After the Brussels meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that without Orban’s veto, action could be coming soon, such as imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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Overlooking the São Lourenço estate is the hilltop town of Monserraz, a fortified settlement with an imposing castle and warren of streets to explore, as well as stunning views over the Guadiana river to the Spanish border.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Subscribe today Hello, this is Hui Jie writing to you from Singapore, while Leonie is away preparing for CNBC’s CONVERGE LIVE event, featuring names like former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Capital Group CEO Mike Gitlin.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
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Last week, Quié, who has the build of a refrigerator and the energy of a hummingbird, was at the Charles Pan-Fried Chicken on 145th Street, preparing for another collaboration.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Experimentation is spreading across Asia.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Reznik said while the San Gabriel River system and adjacent spreading grounds, stretching from Irwindale to Long Beach, work exceptionally well, capturing 90% of the local runoff that percolates into underground basins for later use, that’s not true of some other waterways in the county.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Apple is betting that within a few years, hefty workloads will run on a chip inside the phone, which will play to its strengths as the company has been integrating AI-capable silicon into its devices since 2017.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
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Companies are betting that humanoid robots powered by the latest AI models can eventually prove capable of stepping directly into workplaces designed for humans while flexibly tackling a wider range of tasks.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Anthropomorphism means attributing human characteristics to non-human objects.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Only Murders in the Building star previously addressed speculation about changes in her appearance and mannerisms, attributing the differences to her ongoing battle with lupus and her bipolar disorder diagnosis.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As of now, Brooklyn doesn’t seem keen on burying the hatchet with his parents.—
Jaeden Pinder,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2026
-
With dwindling places to put snow, burying them was their best choice.—
Mike Sullivan,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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