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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Relevance

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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

The screwworm lays eggs in open wounds, and then larvae burrow and eat the host. —

Eva Flowe june 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026 Infestations start when a female fly lays eggs on open wounds—wounds as small as a tick bite can attract a female fly to lay her eggs—or other parts of the body in live animals. —

Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 Screwworms infestations begin when a female fly lays eggs on open wounds or other parts of the body in live-warm-blooded animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —

Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 11 June 2026 The New World screwworm fly—a parasitic fly that lays its eggs in the open wounds of not only livestock like cattle, but also pets and humans in some cases—was discovered in Texas last week for the first time since 1966. —

Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 10 June 2026 Crowley’s lawsuit, however, lays blame for the fire at the feet of the mayor and city leaders, saying the city historically failed to properly fund the LAFD, leaving the agency understaffed and backlogged in the maintenance of vehicles and other equipment. —

City News Service, Daily News, 10 June 2026 The parasite is the larvae of a fly that lays its eggs in open animal wounds. —

Garrett Downs, CNBC, 10 June 2026 Nicknamed the ManhattAnt before eventually being identified as the European Lasius emarginatus, the ant now lays claim to three in every four ant colonies in the city, says Ellen van Wilgenburg, a behavioral ecologist at Fordham University. —

Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 June 2026 Rather, screwworm infestations begin when a female fly lays eggs on a wound or body opening. —

Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 9 June 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

There are other awards given to restaurants and the hospitality industry but the James Beard Foundation, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, puts a premium on discovery and on American cuisine.

— Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
That’s when competition will heat up for roster spots, as first-year coach John Harbaugh puts his imprint on the roster.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 16 June 2026