1
as in puts
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
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in prepares
to make ready in advance
she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
7
as in ascribes
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 buries
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
lay the corpse to rest
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lays
New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025
Overnight, crews will build hose lays along fire breaks and reinforce lines.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Most of the smashing is done by Tamburlaine, a Scythian shepherd by birth, who rises to the peaks of power, lays waste to one kingdom after another, and has the temerity, at the climax of Part 1, not to die.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Giants head coach Brian Daboll has already said that Wilson will likely be starting against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, but if Wilson lays another egg, the Dart noise will get louder and louder.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Every nesting season, thousands of females dig holes on the seashore with their flippers, and each one lays dozens of eggs inside.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
That sobering number lays bare the fundamental flaw in our current digital security infrastructure.
—Rhon Daguro, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Advocating for social and economic justice, this documentary lays the groundwork for the next generation of media activists.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
As the architect of hell, Kuang lays the landscape out in great detail, from vast dunes to skeletal animals made only of bones held together with chalk.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Paired with adaptive dampers, this hardware enables advanced driver-assistance features and lays the groundwork for future updates.
—New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025
Overnight, crews will build hose lays along fire breaks and reinforce lines.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Most of the smashing is done by Tamburlaine, a Scythian shepherd by birth, who rises to the peaks of power, lays waste to one kingdom after another, and has the temerity, at the climax of Part 1, not to die.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Giants head coach Brian Daboll has already said that Wilson will likely be starting against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, but if Wilson lays another egg, the Dart noise will get louder and louder.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Every nesting season, thousands of females dig holes on the seashore with their flippers, and each one lays dozens of eggs inside.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
That sobering number lays bare the fundamental flaw in our current digital security infrastructure.
—Rhon Daguro, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Advocating for social and economic justice, this documentary lays the groundwork for the next generation of media activists.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
As the architect of hell, Kuang lays the landscape out in great detail, from vast dunes to skeletal animals made only of bones held together with chalk.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lays
Verb
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Carlota sees Cherry hiding it, and puts it back in Laura’s room.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Legacy of frog gigging still puts food on the table.—
Jake Allen,
IndyStar,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Cortège gestures toward that transcendence, but too often settles for the kind of veiled enchantment that follows us home through our screens.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Humanity, united by one language, settles on a plain in Shinar and begins constructing a tower to reach the heavens and make a name for themselves.—
John Fugelsang
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Yet the payoff on the other side is far less chilling due to a lack of emotional current, even as this film’s swan-song set piece imposes some nifty special effects and supernatural atmosphere.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Sep. 2025
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What Pennsylvania lawmakers can do Since price caps don’t apply to all types of inhalers and asthma medication, states can pass legislation that imposes such caps, instead of relying solely on industry compliance.—
Ana Santos Rutschman,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As Washington prepares to begin camp later this month, Coulibaly's recovery will be closely monitored.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
At Yeyo’s, chef and founder Rafael Rios prepares some of the best Mexican food in the region.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The expiring boost, implemented in Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act under former President Joe Biden, applies to 22 million of the 24 million low- and middle-income Americans with plans through the ACA marketplace.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
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No, Spotify's Lossless Listening only applies to music streamed on the app, Spotify engineer John Cieslik-Bridgen told USA TODAY.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This breakup analysis ascribes no value to the companies being under the same corporate parent.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Perhaps even worse is the horrifying relatability, as the bereaved father ignores the warnings and buries his dead child in an ancient burial ground.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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Wednesday sets out to stop Isaac from doing the same to Pugsley, but in the process, Isaac captures Thing (Victor Dorobantu) — revealing that Thing was originally his hand, which Morticia had chopped off — and buries Wednesday alive.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kepler further situates its progress within China’s broader push in robotics, stating that domestic innovators have emerged as significant contributors to industry growth and that K2 aims to translate technology upgrades into practical, multi-scenario operations.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
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DaCosta situates the story in 1954 but infuses it with her modern sensibility, shaping a lush, volatile portrait of womanhood, longing, and consequence.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lays. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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