Synonyms of outlay

outlay 1 of 2

noun

ˈau̇t-ˌlā 

as in expense

a payment made in the course of achieving a result

the outlays for the couple's upcoming wedding seem to be multiplying at an incredible rate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expense
• cost
• expenditure
• price
• disbursement
• outgo
• charge
• rate
• overhead
• outflow
• tariff
• toll
• spending money
• pocket money
• tab

outlay

2 of 2

verb

ˈau̇t-ˌlā 

as in to spend

to hand over or use up in payment

the nation had outlaid nearly 20 billion dollars on social programs at that point

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spend
• pay
• expend
• give
• disburse
• lay out
• shell out
• lavish
• fork (over, out, or up)
• drop
• waste
• rain
• throw away
• run through
• blow
• squander
• dissipate
• fritter (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• save
• make
• acquire
• procure
• hoard
• gain
• earn
• realize
• secure
• lay up
• win
• cache
• garner

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of outlay

Noun

Wall Street is getting more cautious, attempting to sort out which companies are spending rationally, how those outlays are impacting other parts of their business, and who will actually benefit from AI’s transformative impact on society. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026

That number includes outlays on robots, semiconductors and satellites. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

Verb

Microsoft plans to outlay $4 billion in the next five years worldwide. — Paresh Dave, Wired News, 24 Dec. 2025

Vasquez then asked if the RDA had outlaid any money for LaPorte County for shoreline development. — Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025