1
as in to put
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 to impose
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 to prepare
to make ready in advance
she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to spread
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 to ascribe
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 to bury
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
lay the corpse to rest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in ballad
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 work
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
as in laic
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of lay
Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Being in the highest tertile (one third for the lay person) of cardio health, Bhatt said, will add close to a decade to your life.
—John Werner, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
The president appoints one of the lay members for a five-year term, and the remaining members serve for six-year terms.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025
Tagle, who was also removed from his role, had been nominally president but was not involved in the day-to-day operations, which were overseen by a lay director-general.
—Philip Pullella, Crispian Balmer, Alvise Armellini, Joshua McElwee and Chris Scicluna, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay
Verb
There is an undeniable appeal of AI in the complicated U.S. tax space that often overwhelms even tax professionals, let alone the lay person.
—Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Being in the highest tertile (one third for the lay person) of cardio health, Bhatt said, will add close to a decade to your life.
—John Werner, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
The president appoints one of the lay members for a five-year term, and the remaining members serve for six-year terms.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025
Tagle, who was also removed from his role, had been nominally president but was not involved in the day-to-day operations, which were overseen by a lay director-general.
—Philip Pullella, Crispian Balmer, Alvise Armellini, Joshua McElwee and Chris Scicluna, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay
Verb
-
But the 2025 grades put Brookshire Elementary School in Winter Park in an uncomfortable spotlight.—
Zoey Thomas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
-
Cayley put her deposit down in February and traveled to Turkey in May.—
Hedy Phillips,
People.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
In June, Khoury rejected an offer from Honda to settle his case for $1,000, saying that replacing the minivan’s tires around every 25,000 miles would cost much more than that.—
Rick Barrett,
jsonline.com,
14 July 2025
-
The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
The president said on Monday that the U.S. will impose 100% tariffs on countries that engage in trade with Russia if there is no peace deal to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
14 July 2025
-
For months, Trump had threatened, but held off on, imposing new sanctions against Russia's oil industry.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Consider personally submitting your tax payment to the IRS after your CPA has prepared them, review your tax returns every year.—
Anne-Lyse Ngatta,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Researchers have used different types of strawberries prepared in different ways to assess their blood pressure benefits.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
With the draft beginning this coming Sunday and the trade deadline at the end of the month, A.J. Preller’s closest lieutenants are in San Diego rather than spread around the country looking at big-league and amateur players.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 July 2025
-
Zoning, including single-family-exclusive zoning, first spread across the US in the early 20th century (before that, development was far more freewheeling and improvised).—
Marina Bolotnikova,
Vox,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
Beginning in 2026, the tax law changes just enough to irk people who dream big by heading to the casino, betting online or buying lottery tickets.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
10 July 2025
-
Among those who do itemize, the additional income from sports betting wins (even if there are corresponding losses) have the potential to increase their income to the point where they are phased out of certain deductions and credits.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Based on those intense interactions, the temptation to ascribe God-like powers to the AI is going to be huge.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Another trait often ascribed to footballers is courage — the kind that enables them to put their head into a frenzy of flying boots, or take a decisive penalty when thousands are willing them to fail.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, every attempt to create ethical walls and accountability at PURA have been quietly buried by those who benefit from the dysfunction.—
Timothy M. Herbst,
Hartford Courant,
6 July 2025
-
Where power lines are buried, flooding can also cause issues.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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