LAYS Synonyms: 344 Similar and Opposite Words

lays 1 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of lay

as in puts

to arrange something in a certain spot or position just lay the book over there on the table for now

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as in settles

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

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as in imposes

to establish or apply as a charge or penalty state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet

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as in prepares

to make ready in advance she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time

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as in applies

to put a layer of on a surface the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second

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as in bets

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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as in ascribes

to explain (something) as being the result of something else an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring

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as in buries

to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea lay the corpse to rest

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lays

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of lay

as in melodies

a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect the minstrel strummed a cheerful lay on his lute

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as in ballads

a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment she sang a short lay in dedication to her husband

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lays

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of lay

as in works

the activity by which one regularly makes a living my main lay is as a general contractor, but I do side work as a carpenter

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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 lays

Verb

My mother takes her glasses off, the lenses fogged, and lays them on the table. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026 Winston, who’s been in those backrooms with those people before, lays his hope with those who can channel their passions into specific action plans for change. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026 Now concealed, the tarantula hawk lays a single egg on the tarantula’s abdomen. — Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 His blunt methodology lays the groundwork for Ingoglia’s argument that local officials can reduce taxes without cutting essential services. — Zoe Millán, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026 Making those comments before Michigan faces Oklahoma, one of the toughest defenses on its schedule, lays the groundwork for a QB switch if the offense sputters again. — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Hawk’s Nest lays claim to four bedrooms, sauna-like bathrooms with wooden floors, and prime access to the yacht club. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026 Accounting Statement 34 from the standards-setting nonprofit lays the foundation for capitalizing, reporting and depreciating capital assets. — Kathryn Blackman, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 But Mizzou lays claim to the title because of several factors, including statistical discrepancies and a Border War game that has drawn lines in the sand for Missouri and Kansas fan bases. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Noun

Before us, in a curtain of matte black against the vibrant green, a beautiful, enormous silverback lays flopped on his back surrounded by eight gorillas of all ages wrestling around him. — Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026 While the 40-foot steeple of Crown Point’s oldest church lays toppled along Grant Street and East North Street, treasures found inside the 139-year-old church have found their way into new light. — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lays

Verb

The exit poll from Germany’s public broadcaster puts the AfD on 38%, just two weeks after the party had its best result yet in Saxony-Anhalt.

— Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
However, going down to 0-2 puts a team at a really big hole to start the year and make the playoffs.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of puts

Verb

The sides were told to notify the court if the case settles earlier.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2026
The musk floral composition opens with Galbanum, Ambrettolide, and Sage, moves into Daffodil, Jasmine, Flouve, and Orris, and settles into Vetiver, Hay, Cypriol, and Musk, the brand added.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of settles

Verb

The bill, named after the late Republican senator and which was passed by Congress this month, imposes primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and other countries that support Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

— Jamie Dorrington, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
This imposes substantial costs to consumers, limits access to free information and content on the open web, and reduces pathways to earnings for writers and content producers.

— Vivek Shah, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of imposes

Verb

But as coach Sean McVay prepares his team for Monday night’s game against the New York Giants, the Super Bowl-favorite Rams’ suddenly not-so-super offense also demands scrutiny.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
The film, directed by May el-Toukhy, is set in Denmark in the aftermath of World War II, as a maid prepares to marry her former employer.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of prepares

Verb

This applies most where a tool’s confidence in a candidate runs unusually high or low, since that is where distortion is most likely to hide.

— Houman Akhavan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
The senior stimulus provided relief to a small group of homeowners, while the millage rate applies to the broader property tax base.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of applies

Verb

But that’s a problem in Bordeaux, a region that bets big on red wines aged in oak.

— Kate Dingwall, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
Told ‘no’ at every turn, Sylvester Stallone bets everything on himself, holding the line on playing the lead against seemingly impossible odds.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

Definition of bets

Verb

One automatically ascribes fraud to results that are often predictable, even routine; the other dismisses legitimate concerns as conspiracy theories.

— Andrew E. Busch, The Conversation, 23 July 2026
In line with the science of his time, which said that lunar craters were volcanic, Verne ascribes his flickering light to an eruption.

— Neil Oseman, Space.com, 14 June 2026

Definition of ascribes

Verb

Past a certain point, more preparation buries the message instead of sharpening it.

— Lynn Smith, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
The winter months pass, long nights, a bomb cyclone that buries my basement windows in snow and leaves me to lurk in the dark like a slumbering bear, and then spring arrives abrupt and clanging and golden.

— Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026