最新imtoken正版|lay

Lay Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Lay Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Menu Toggle

Merriam-Webster Logo

Games & Quizzes

Games & Quizzes

Word of the Day

Grammar

Wordplay

Word Finder

Thesaurus

Join MWU

Shop

Books

Merch

Settings

My Words

Recents

Account

Log Out

More

Thesaurus

Join MWU

Shop

Books

Merch

Log In

Username

My Words

Recents

Account

Log Out

Est. 1828

Dictionary

Definition

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

adjective

verb

5

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing

Related Articles

Video

Entries Near

Cite this EntryCitation

Share

Kids DefinitionKids

Legal DefinitionLegal

More from M-W

Show more

Show more

Citation

Share

Kids

Legal

More from M-W

Save Word

To save this word, you'll need to log in.

Log In

lay

1 of 5

verb

ˈlā 

laid

ˈlād 

; laying

Synonyms of lay

transitive verb

1

: to beat or strike down with force

2

a

: to put or set down

lay your books on the table

b

: to place for rest or sleep

She laid the baby in his crib for a nap.

especially

: bury

3

: to bring forth and deposit (an egg)

4

: calm, allay

lay the dust

5

: bet, wager

6

: to press down giving a smooth and even surface

brushing to lay the nap

7

a

: to dispose or spread over or on a surface

lay track lay plaster

b

: to set in order or position

lay a table for dinner lay brick

c

: to put (strands) in place and twist to form a rope, hawser, or cable

also

: to make by putting strands in place and twisting

lay up rope

8

a

: to impose as a duty, burden, or punishment

lay a tax

b

: to put as a burden of reproach

laid the blame on her

c

: to advance as an accusation : impute

the disaster was laid to faulty inspection

9

: to place (something immaterial) on something

lay stress on grammar

10

: prepare, contrive

a well-laid plan

11

a

: to bring against or into contact with something : apply

laid the watch to his ear

b

: to prepare or position for action or operation

lay a fire in the fireplace

also

: to adjust (a gun) to the proper direction and elevation

12

: to bring to a specified condition

lay waste the land

13

a

: assert, allege

lay claim to an estate

b

: to submit for examination and judgment

laid her case before the commission

14

often vulgar

: to copulate with

intransitive verb

1

: to produce and deposit eggs

2

nonstandard

: lie entry 1

3

: wager, bet

4

dialect

: plan, prepare

5

a

: to apply oneself vigorously

laid to his oars

b

: to proceed to a specified place or position on a ship

lay aloft

Lay vs. Lie: Usage Guide

Lay has been used intransitively in the sense of "lie"

going to lay down for a quick nap

since the 14th century. The practice was unremarked until around 1770; attempts to correct it have been a fixture of schoolbooks ever since. Generations of teachers and critics have succeeded in taming most literary and learned writing, but intransitive lay persists in familiar speech and is a bit more common in general prose than one might suspect. Much of the problem lies in the confusing similarity of the principal parts of the two words. Another influence may be a folk belief that lie is for people and lay is for things. Some commentators are ready to abandon the distinction, suggesting that lay is on the rise socially. But if it does rise to respectability, it is sure to do so slowly: many people have invested effort in learning to keep lie and lay distinct. Remember that even though many people do use lay for lie, others will judge you unfavorably if you do.

lay

2 of 5

noun (1)

ˈlā 

1

: covert, lair

2

: something (such as a layer) that lies or is laid (see lay entry 1)

3

a

: line of action : plan

b

: line of work : occupation

4

a

: terms of sale or employment : price

b

: share of profit (as on a whaling voyage) paid in lieu of wages

5

a

: the amount of advance of any point in a rope strand for one turn

b

: the nature of a fiber rope as determined by the amount of twist, the angle of the strands, and the angle of the threads in the strands

6

: the way in which a thing lies or is laid in relation to something else

the lay of the land

7

: the state of one that lays eggs

hens coming into lay

8

a

vulgar

: a partner in sexual intercourse

b

usually vulgar

: sexual intercourse

lay

3 of 5

past tense of

lie

lay

4 of 5

noun (2)

ˈlā 

1

: a simple narrative poem : ballad

2

: melody, song

lay

5 of 5

adjective

ˈlā 

1

: of or relating to the laity : not ecclesiastical

2

: of or relating to members of a religious house occupied with domestic or manual work

a lay brother

3

: not of a particular profession

the lay public

also

: lacking extensive knowledge of a particular subject

Phrases

lay an egg

: to fail or blunder especially embarrassingly

The professor tried to be funny, but he laid an egg.

lay eyes on

: see, behold

I never laid eyes on her before today.

lay into

: to attack especially verbally

laid into the referee

lay on the table

1

: to remove (a parliamentary motion) from consideration indefinitely

2

British

: to put (something, such as legislation) on the agenda

Synonyms

Verb

depose

deposit

dispose

emplace

fix

place

position

put

set

set up

situate

stick

Noun (1)

calling

employment

game

line

occupation

profession

trade

vocation

work

Noun (2)

air

melody

song

strain

tune

warble

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of lay in a Sentence

Verb

Lay the fabric carefully on the table.

He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

She laid the baby in his crib for a nap.

When will they lay the foundation for the addition?

lay tracks for the new railroad

They laid him in his grave.

Adjective

a science magazine written for the lay public

See More

Recent Examples on the WebNoun

These communities — ranging from groups that only meet online to immigrant collectives who worship in their cultural traditions — receive financial and supportive resources from the local and national Presbyterian Church (USA) and can be led by lay leaders.

—Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2024

The use of lay counselors to expand and extend the reach of services has been tried and studied extensively in developing countries.

—Grace Rubenstein, STAT, 18 Jan. 2024

Becciu is the first cardinal to be tried in Vatican City's criminal court by lay judges.

—Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2023

Through the preliminary investigations of the CLPS missions, NASA hopes to establish a good lay of the land before sending astronauts to the south pole during the second half of this decade.

—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 Oct. 2023

Prosecutors reportedly said their witness list has 737 people, including lay witnesses and expert witnesses.

—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023

The 66-year-old courtier is a father of five, goes by Eddie to his friends and is considered to be both the most senior lay member of the Catholic Church and senior peer in Britain, The Telegraph reported.

—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 2 May 2023

As her 6-month-old lay dying in her arms, Becky Kekula struggled to make sense of how this could be.

—Jessica Bartlett, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Apr. 2023

The discernment team, which consists of 11 lay members and Senior Pastor Keith Thompson, has been studying the issue of potential disaffiliation for more than a year, Thompson said in a letter to the congregation today.

—Greg Garrison | , al, 13 June 2023

Adjective

Rather than spend months on a wait list for therapy, San Ysidro Health patients with mild to moderate symptoms of mental health issues can now divert directly into group therapy led by a lay counselor.

—Grace Rubenstein, STAT, 18 Jan. 2024

But also absent are the lay German theologians seen as among the faith’s most liberal voices.

—Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2023

Mushroom Disputes: The Mycelium vs. Fruiting Body Debate The lay understanding of a mushroom (i.e., the stem with a cap depicted in the popular red-and-white emoji) is technically called the fruiting body.

—Robert Johnson, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2023

Certainly, this technology holds promise, as science communication for years has been marred by complexity and inaccessibility to the lay public.

—Time, 23 Aug. 2023

The lay leader of the local congregation confirmed Wednesday that Robertson lived alone within his ward boundaries.

—Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023

Shaw delivers the rest of this story as an omniscient narrator, deftly moving from scene to scene and, along the way, helpfully explaining production jargon for a lay audience.

—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 2 May 2023

The software, known as PGP, aimed to make secure communication accessible to the lay user, but it was so poorly designed that even Edward Snowden messed up his first attempt to use PGP to email a friend of Laura Poitras.

—Kai Ye, WIRED, 23 July 2023

The therapist worked as a plot engine, because everyone’s lay idea of therapy is having a problem and addressing it and solving it, which hews really well to the format of a sitcom.

—The New Yorker, 12 July 2023

See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English leyen, from Old English lecgan; akin to Old English licgan to lie — more at lie

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French lai — see lay entry 5

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French lai, from Late Latin laicus, from Greek laikos of the people, from laos people

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun (1)

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of lay was

before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing lay

lay a hand on

lay by

lay aside

lay down one's life

lay down one's arms

lay down

lay bare

lay day

lay down the law

lay oneself open

lay off

lay on the table

lay over

lay/put a guilt trip on

lay/put (all/all of) one's cards on the table

lay the groundwork/foundation

lay the blame for (something) at someone's door

lay waste to

set/lay great store by

the lay of the land

get/lay one's hands on

lay a finger on

lay hold of

lay it on the line

lay away

lay great stress/emphasis on

lay reader

lay charges

lay/put (something) to rest

lay figure

lay up

lay to

lay a/the foundation

lay the blame/responsibility on

lay in

lay it on

lay out

lay plans

lay/put stress on

lay on

lay (someone) to rest

lay into

lay an egg

lay eyes on

lay siege to

See More

Articles Related to lay

How to Use 'Lay' and 'Lie'

Tripping Up English Speakers for 700 Years

The History of 'Epic Fail'

People have used 'fail' to mean 'failure' since the 1600s

Video

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

Dictionary Entries Near lay

Laxness

lay

lay abbot

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

Style

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

“Lay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Post the Definition of lay to Facebook

Facebook

Share the Definition of lay on Twitter

Twitter

Kids Definition

lay

1 of 5

verb

ˈlā 

laid

ˈlād 

; laying

1

: to beat or strike down

wheat laid flat by the wind and rain

2

a

: to put or set on or against a surface or in order

lay the book on the table lay bricks

b

: to place for rest or sleep

especially

: bury sense 1

3

: to produce and deposit eggs

4

nonstandard

: lie entry 1

5

: to cause to settle

a shower laid the dust

also

: to make calm : allay

laid his fears

6

: to spread over a surface

lay plaster

7

: to make ready : prepare

lay plans lay a table

8

: to deposit as a wager : bet

I'll lay you $10 on that

9

: impose sense 1a

lay a tax lay blame

10

: to place or assign in one's scheme of things

lays great stress on manners

11

: to bring to a specified condition

lay waste to the land

12

: to put forward : submit

lay claim to an estate

lay

2 of 5

noun

: the way in which a thing lies in relation to something else

lay of the land

lay

3 of 5

past of

lie entry 1

lay

4 of 5

noun

1

: a simple poem that tells a story : ballad

2

: melody sense 2, song

lay

5 of 5

adjective

: of or relating to laymen or the laity

Etymology

Verb

Old English lecgan "to beat down"

Noun

Middle English lay "ballad," from early French lai (same meaning)

Adjective

Middle English lay "of the people other than priests and clergy," from early French lai (same meaning), from Latin laicus "of the people," derived from Greek laos "people"

Legal Definition

lay

1 of 2

transitive verb

laid; laying

1

: to impose as a duty, burden, or punishment

lay a tax

2

a

: to put forward : assert

lay a claim

b

: to submit for examination and determination

laid a case before the commission

lay

2 of 2

past of

lie

More from Merriam-Webster on lay

Nglish: Translation of lay for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of lay for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lay

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Merriam-Webster unabridged

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Play

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Play

Word of the Day

ulterior

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But Forgot

Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

'Arsy-Varsy,' and Other Snappy Reduplicatives

The Words of the Week - Mar. 8

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels

12 More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

8 Uncommon Words Related to Love

See All

Games & Quizzes

See All

Quordle

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Blossom Word Game

You can make only 12 words. Pick the best ones!

Play

Missing Letter

A crossword with a twist

Play

Spelling Bee Quiz

Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...

Take the quiz

Merriam Webster

Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!

Help

About Us

Advertising Info

Contact Us

Diversity

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

© 2024 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

LAY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

LAY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

Dictionary

Translate

Grammar

Thesaurus

+Plus

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Shop

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Log in

/

Sign up

English (UK)

Search

Search

English

Meaning of lay in English

layverb uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/ laid

lay verb

(PUT DOWN)

Add to word list

Add to word list

C1 [ T usually + adv/prep ] to put something in especially a flat or horizontal position, usually carefully or for a particular purpose: She laid the baby on the bed. He laid the tray down on the table.lay aside She laid aside her book and went to answer the phone. We're having a new carpet laid in the hall next week. The plan is to lay (= build) the foundations for the new apartments in October.

[ T ] to prepare a plan or a method of doing something: best laid plans Even the best laid plans go wrong sometimes.

More examplesFewer examplesJust lay the suitcase on the bed, would you?He laid the wreath reverently in front of the memorial.The road has been dug up in order to lay cables.Modern office buildings have false floors, under which computer and phone wires can be laid.He took out his gold watch and laid it ostentatiously on the table in front of him.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Placing and positioning an object

-based

appose

around

change something around

circle

consign

fit

gone

install

lie

pile (something) up

plant

redeposit

reinstall

reinstallation

relocate

reorientate

superimpose

transpose

transposition

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Preparing

Planning, expecting and arranging

lay verb

(LIE)

past simple of

lie

[ I ] NOT STANDARD to lie somewhere. This use is generally considered to not be correct: "I was so tired that at one point, I was laying down on the floor," he said. My dog just lays there all day in the sun.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Reclining

crowd-surfing

fallen

fetal position

foetal position

full-length

lean

lie

lounge around (something)

prone

prone positioning

proning

prostrate

prostration

repose

sink

sink into something

sit back

sprawl

sprawled

stretch

See more results »

lay verb

(PRODUCE EGGS)

B2 [ I or T ] (of an animal or bird) to produce eggs from out of the body: Thousands of turtles drag themselves onto the beach and lay their eggs in the sand.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Animal reproduction

androgen

anti-oestrogen

asexuality

asexually

barrenness

calve

fertile

impregnate

nonreproductive

oestrogen

out-reproduce

ovulate

ovulation

panmictic

panmixia

procreate

procreation

rut

spawn

sterile

See more results »

lay verb

(HAVE SEX)

[ T ] slang to have sex with someone: get laid So did you get laid (= find someone to have sex with)?

lay verb

(RISK MONEY)

[ T ] to risk something, usually money, on the result of an event: lay something on something She won't get the job - I'd lay money on it!

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Gambling & bookmaking

a/the bookmaker's phrase

ante

anti-gambling

bank

bet

blackjack

casino

chip

co-favourite

cockfight

gaming table

pontoon

raffle

scratcher ticket

self-exclusion

slot machine

smart money

spread betting

stake something on something

stakeholder

See more results »

lay verb

(EXPRESS)

[ T ] to express a claim, legal statement, etc. in a serious or official way: lay the blame on She can't accept she made a mistake and now she's trying to lay the blame on (= accuse) her assistant.lay a charge against Do you understand the seriousness of the charge (= legal accusation) that has been laid against you?

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to blame someone for somethingblameHe blamed his wife for the error.lay the blame onThe bridge's architect was quick to lay the blame on the engineers.pin the blame onNo one should be looking to pin the blame on others.apportion blameWhen a company fails it isn't always possible to apportion blame.hold someone responsibleIf anything goes wrong, I will hold you responsible.take the blameIf we fail, I'll take the blame.

See more results »

 lay claim to something

to say that you own something: Two companies have laid claim to the design.

See more

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Announcing, informing & stating

acquaint someone/yourself with something

annunciation

apprise someone of something

avowedly

awaken someone to something

break

breathe/say a word idiom

disseminate

impart

known

on the record idiom

pass

proclaim

propagate

put something before someone

put something out

put something out of its misery idiom

rapporteur

reportable

statement

See more results »

Grammar

Lay or lie?The verb lay means ‘to put something down carefully in a flat position’. It must have an object. It is a regular verb, but note the spelling of the past simple and -ed form: laid not layed: …

Idioms

lay something at someone's door

lay someone low

lay something on the line

lay yourself open to attack, criticism, ridicule, etc.

lay someone to rest

lay something to rest

lay something (to) waste

lay a finger on someone

lay a hand on someone

lay bare something

More idioms

lay it on a bit thick

lay the groundwork/basis/foundations for something

lay the ghost of something (to rest)

lay up trouble for yourself

Phrasal verbs

lay something aside

lay something down

lay something in

lay into someone

lay someone off

lay off (something/someone)

lay something off

lay something on

lay something out

lay someone out

More phrasal verbs

lay someone up

lay something up

layadjective [ before noun ] uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/

lay adjective [before noun]

(NOT TRAINED)

not trained in or not having a detailed knowledge of a particular subject: From a lay viewpoint the questionnaire is virtually incomprehensible. See also

layman (NOT TRAINED)

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Types of employment

admin

administrative

administrative assistant

administratively

at the coalface idiom

job-share

job-sharing

jobbing

jobless

joblessness

professionalism

professionality

qualified

recertify

redundancy

virtual assistant

well qualified

WFH

white-collar

who's who idiom

See more results »

lay adjective [before noun]

(CHURCH)

having a position in a religious organization that is not a full-time job and is not paid: a lay preacher See also

layman (CHURCH)

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Religious people: followers of religious groups

Adventist

Anglican

animist

anti-cult

anti-papal

druid

Episcopalian

evangelist

fakir

Franciscan

missionary

Mohammedan

Moonie

moral majority

Mormon

sectarianism

Seventh-Day Adventist

Shia

Shiite

Sikh

See more results »

laynoun [ C ]

  slang uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/

used to describe how good someone is at sex, or how often they have sex: good lay She's a good lay (= sex with her is enjoyable).easy lay She got a reputation as an easy lay (= she was thought to have slept with a lot of people).

(Definition of lay from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

lay | American Dictionary

layverb us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/ past tense and past participle laid us/leɪd/

lay verb

(PUT DOWN)

Add to word list

Add to word list

[ T ] to put something down, esp. into a flat or horizontal position: He laid his coat on a chair. She laid the baby (down) in her crib.

[ T ] To lay is also to put down in a careful or systematic way for a particular purpose: We’re having a new carpet laid in the hall next week.

lay verb

(PREPARE)

[ T ] to prepare something: The initial negotiations laid the groundwork for more detailed talks later on.

lay verb

(PRODUCE EGGS)

[ I/T ] (of an animal or bird) to produce eggs from out of its body

lay verb

(RISK)

[ T ] to risk something on the result of an event: I’ll lay odds (= risk money) that she won’t show up.

lay verb

(EXPRESS)

[ T ] to put or express: He laid emphasis on the fact that he had never been found guilty of a crime. She’s trying to lay the blame on someone else (= blame someone else).

Idioms

lay a finger on someone

lay down your life

lay down the law

lay someone to rest

lay something to restPhrasal verbs

lay someone open

lay down something

lay down something

lay in something

lay into someone

lay off someone

lay off (something/someone)

lay out something

lay up someone

layadjective [ not gradable ] us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/

lay adjective [not gradable]

(NOT TRAINED)

not trained in or not having a detailed knowledge of a particular subject: To a lay audience, the mathematics would be difficult.

layus

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/

lay

(LIE)

past simple of lie

(Definition of lay from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

lay | Business English

layverb [ T ] uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

laid | laid

Add to word list

Add to word list

to put something onto a surface or under the ground in a horizontal position: lay a pipe/cable Workmen were digging up the street to lay cables. They prepared the ground, then laid concrete.

to prepare for doing something or to make it possible for something to happen in the future: lay the basis/foundation/groundwork for sth Perhaps more than anyone, he laid the groundwork for today's digital revolution.

to bet (= risk) something on the result of an event: lay odds/a wager I'll lay odds that she won't take the job.

 lay blame (on sb/sth)

to say that someone or something is responsible for something bad that happened: You can't lay blame on the government for all your troubles. When projects go wrong, everyone looks for somewhere to lay the blame.

 lay claim to sth

to say that you own something or have a right to it: Through a series of buyouts, we laid claim to the best intellectual property of our time.

 lay an egg

informal US to make something that does not work well or that fails: They laid an egg by putting last decade's technology in that phone.

Phrasal verbs

lay sth aside

lay sth down

lay sb off

lay out (sth) for/on sth

lay sth out

lay sth up

layadjective [ before noun ] uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/leɪ/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

not expert in or not having a detailed knowledge of a particular subject: lay person/audience/reader Gadget reviews work best when they use less technical jargon for the lay audience.

See also

layperson

(Definition of lay from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of lay

lay

They are not specialist enough for scientists actively involved in the topics, and not general enough for lay people.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

One set lay close to the surface within the oocyte and the other set was extruded into the perivitelline space within the second polar body.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Underlying all these seemingly inclusive efforts, however, lay scientific theories and impressions of newcomers as at least potentially toxic.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Then, she lay down to sleep with an indescribably beatific expression.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

This implies that there are clear boundaries between the scientist and the lay public.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Its interest, however, lay in its anomalous status.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

They expelled dissenters, made war on each other, helped outsiders lay their neighbours waste and stole each other's trade whenever they could.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

She lay there, a distressed, unsheltered, senseless creature.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In his catalogue of her sadness, the narrator allows the poem to lay heavy blame on the lover who abandoned her.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Its oddness, in his view, lay in the disproportion it sustained between stimulus and response.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Lay interviewers were used to collect the data on the presence or absence of the specific symptoms identified in the instrument.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of lay?

C1,B2

Translations of lay

in Chinese (Traditional)

放下, 放置，安放，平放, 計劃，研究（方法）…

See more

in Chinese (Simplified)

放下, 放置，安放，平放, 计划，研究（方法）…

See more

in Spanish

colocar, pasado simple de "lie", poner…

See more

in Portuguese

pôr, colocar, passado de "lie"…

See more

in more languages

in Marathi

in Japanese

in Turkish

in French

in Catalan

in Dutch

in Tamil

in Hindi

in Gujarati

in Danish

in Swedish

in Malay

in German

in Norwegian

in Urdu

in Ukrainian

in Russian

in Telugu

in Arabic

in Bengali

in Czech

in Indonesian

in Thai

in Vietnamese

in Polish

in Korean

in Italian

आडवे ठेवणे, अंडी घालणे…

See more

“lie” の過去形, ～を横たえる, （卵）を産む…

See more

sermek, koymak, yerleştirmek…

See more

(dé)poser, installer, pondre…

See more

passat de “lie”, col·locar, pondre…

See more

leggen, voorbereiden, platleggen…

See more

எதையாவது குறிப்பாக ஒரு தட்டையான அல்லது கிடைமட்ட நிலையில் வைக்க, பொதுவாக கவனமாக அல்லது ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட நோக்கத்திற்காக, (ஒரு விலங்கு அல்லது பறவை) உடல்களில் இருந்து முட்டைகளை உற்பத்தி செய்ய…

See more

(किसी चीज़ को किसी विशेष प्रयोजन हेतु) सपाट लिटाना, (किसी पशु या पक्षी का) अपने शरीर से अंडे का उत्पादन करना…

See more

મૂકવું, રાખવું, (પ્રાણી અથવા પક્ષીનું) તેના શરીરમાંથી ઇંડા ઉત્પન્ન કરે છે…

See more

lægge, anbringe, præsentere…

See more

lägga, duka, göra upp…

See more

meletakkan, membaringkan, menyediakan…

See more

legen, decken, herrichten…

See more

legge, gjøre, legge (ned)…

See more

لپیٹنا, لٹانا, ایک طرف سلیقے سے رکھنا…

See more

класти, покласти, накривати…

See more

класть, устанавливать, светский…

See more

దేనినైనా ప్రత్యేకించి చదునైన లేదా సమాంతర స్థానంలో సాధారణంగా జాగ్రత్తగా లేదా ఒక నిర్దిష్ట ప్రయోజనం కోసం ఉంచు, గుడ్లు పెట్టు…

See more

lie الفِعل الماضي مِن, يَضَع, يَبيض…

See more

শুইয়ে রাখা, ডিম পাড়া…

See more

vložit, položit, předložit…

See more

meletakkan, membaringkan, menata…

See more

วาง, วางนอน, เรียง…

See more

đặt, để, đặt cái gì vào vị trí…

See more

układać, świecki, przeciętny…

See more

“lie”의 과거형, 내려놓다, 알을 낳다…

See more

passato semplice di “lie”, stendere, adagiare…

See more

Need a translator?

Get a quick, free translation!

Translator tool

Browse

lax

laxative

laxity

laxly

lay

lay a finger on someone idiom

lay a hand on someone idiom

lay an egg idiom

lay bare something idiom

More meanings of lay

All

layman

lie

lay-by

lay-in

lay-up

flat lay

lay brother

See all meanings

Phrasal Verbs

lay down something

lay in something

lay into someone

lay off someone

lay off (something/someone)

lay someone open

lay out something

See all phrasal verb meanings

Idioms and phrases

lay a finger on someone idiom

lay down your life idiom

lay down the law idiom

lay someone to rest idiom

lay something to rest idiom

lay an egg idiom

lay bare something idiom

See all idioms and phrases

Word of the Day

response

UK

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/rɪˈspɒns/

US

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/rɪˈspɑːns/

an answer or reaction

About this

Blog

Forget doing it or forget to do it? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns (2)

March 06, 2024

Read More

New Words

inverse vaccine

March 11, 2024

More new words

has been added to list

To top

Contents

EnglishAmericanBusinessExamplesTranslations

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

Learn

Learn

Learn

New Words

Help

In Print

Word of the Year 2021

Word of the Year 2022

Word of the Year 2023

Develop

Develop

Develop

Dictionary API

Double-Click Lookup

Search Widgets

License Data

About

About

About

Accessibility

Cambridge English

Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Consent Management

Cookies and Privacy

Corpus

Terms of Use

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Dictionary

Definitions

Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English

English

Learner’s Dictionary

Essential British English

Essential American English

Translations

Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.

Bilingual Dictionaries

English–Chinese (Simplified)

Chinese (Simplified)–English

English–Chinese (Traditional)

Chinese (Traditional)–English

English–Dutch

Dutch–English

English–French

French–English

English–German

German–English

English–Indonesian

Indonesian–English

English–Italian

Italian–English

English–Japanese

Japanese–English

English–Norwegian

Norwegian–English

English–Polish

Polish–English

English–Portuguese

Portuguese–English

English–Spanish

Spanish–English

English–Swedish

Swedish–English

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

English–Arabic

English–Bengali

English–Catalan

English–Czech

English–Danish

English–Gujarati

English–Hindi

English–Korean

English–Malay

English–Marathi

English–Russian

English–Tamil

English–Telugu

English–Thai

English–Turkish

English–Ukrainian

English–Urdu

English–Vietnamese

Translate

Grammar

Thesaurus

Pronunciation

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Shop

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Log in /

Sign up

English (UK)  

Change

English (UK)

English (US)

Español

Русский

Português

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

中文 (简体)

正體中文 (繁體)

Polski

한국어

Türkçe

日本語

Tiếng Việt

Nederlands

Svenska

Dansk

Norsk

हिंदी

বাঙ্গালি

मराठी

ગુજરાતી

தமிழ்

తెలుగు

Українська

Follow us

Choose a dictionary

Recent and Recommended

Definitions

Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English

English

Learner’s Dictionary

Essential British English

Essential American English

Grammar and thesaurus

Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English

Grammar

Thesaurus

Pronunciation

British and American pronunciations with audio

English Pronunciation

Translation

Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.

Bilingual Dictionaries

English–Chinese (Simplified)

Chinese (Simplified)–English

English–Chinese (Traditional)

Chinese (Traditional)–English

English–Dutch

Dutch–English

English–French

French–English

English–German

German–English

English–Indonesian

Indonesian–English

English–Italian

Italian–English

English–Japanese

Japanese–English

English–Norwegian

Norwegian–English

English–Polish

Polish–English

English–Portuguese

Portuguese–English

English–Spanish

Spanish–English

English–Swedish

Swedish–English

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

English–Arabic

English–Bengali

English–Catalan

English–Czech

English–Danish

English–Gujarati

English–Hindi

English–Korean

English–Malay

English–Marathi

English–Russian

English–Tamil

English–Telugu

English–Thai

English–Turkish

English–Ukrainian

English–Urdu

English–Vietnamese

Dictionary +Plus

Word Lists

Choose your language

English (UK)  

English (US)

Español

Русский

Português

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

中文 (简体)

正體中文 (繁體)

Polski

한국어

Türkçe

日本語

Tiếng Việt

Nederlands

Svenska

Dansk

Norsk

हिंदी

বাঙ্গালি

मराठी

ગુજરાતી

தமிழ்

తెలుగు

Українська

Contents

English 

Verb 

lay (PUT DOWN)

lay (LIE)

lay (PRODUCE EGGS)

lay (HAVE SEX)

lay (RISK MONEY)

lay (EXPRESS)

lay claim to something

Adjective 

lay (NOT TRAINED)

lay (CHURCH)

Noun

American 

Verb 

lay (PUT DOWN)

lay (PREPARE)

lay (PRODUCE EGGS)

lay (RISK)

lay (EXPRESS)

Adjective 

lay (NOT TRAINED)

Business 

Verb 

lay

lay blame (on sb/sth)

lay claim to sth

lay an egg

Adjective

Examples

Translations

Grammar

All translations

My word lists

Add lay to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

More

Go to your word lists

Tell us about this example sentence:

The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel

Submit

The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel

Submit

Lay or lie ? - Grammar - Cambridge Dictionary

Lay or lie ? - Grammar - Cambridge Dictionary

Dictionary

Translate

Grammar

Thesaurus

+Plus

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Shop

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Log in

/

Sign up

English (UK)

Search

Search

Grammar

Lay or lie?

Grammar > Easily confused words > Lay or lie? from English Grammar Today

The verb lay means ‘to put something down carefully in a flat position’. It must have an object. It is a regular verb, but note the spelling of the past simple and -ed form: laid not layed:Shall I lay the tray on the bed?A wonderful wooden floor has been laid in the dining room.Not: … floor has been layed …Lie is a verb which means ‘to be in or put yourself into a flat position’. It is an irregular verb and it doesn’t take an object. The -ing form is lying and the past simple is lay. The -ed form, lain, is very formal and is rarely used:I love to lie on a beach and read.She lay on the bed and gazed at the ceiling, daydreaming.The dog was lying by the gate waiting for me to come home.Lie can also mean ‘say something which is not true’. In this case, it is a regular verb:I lied to my teacher about my homework.Comparebase formlay (put something down)lie (be horizontal)lie (say something that is not true)past simplelaidlaylied-ed formlaidlainliedTypical errorsWe don’t use lay to talk about being in a flat position. Lay must have an object:My mother hates when the cat lies on our beds.Not: … when the cat lays on our beds …The past form of lie is lay:I lay on the grass and watched a plane fly overhead.Not: I lied on the grass …

Word of the Day

response

UK

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/rɪˈspɒns/

US

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/rɪˈspɑːns/

an answer or reaction

About this

Blog

Forget doing it or forget to do it? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns (2)

March 06, 2024

Read More

New Words

inverse vaccine

March 11, 2024

More new words

has been added to list

To top

Contents

Adjectives and adverbs

Easily confused words

Nouns, pronouns and determiners

Prepositions and particles

Using English

Adjectives and adverbs

Verbs

Words, sentences and clauses

Easily confused words

Nouns, pronouns and determiners

Prepositions and particles

Using English

Verbs

Words, sentences and clauses

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

Learn

Learn

Learn

New Words

Help

In Print

Word of the Year 2021

Word of the Year 2022

Word of the Year 2023

Develop

Develop

Develop

Dictionary API

Double-Click Lookup

Search Widgets

License Data

About

About

About

Accessibility

Cambridge English

Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Consent Management

Cookies and Privacy

Corpus

Terms of Use

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Dictionary

Definitions

Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English

English

Learner’s Dictionary

Essential British English

Essential American English

Translations

Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.

Bilingual Dictionaries

English–Chinese (Simplified)

Chinese (Simplified)–English

English–Chinese (Traditional)

Chinese (Traditional)–English

English–Dutch

Dutch–English

English–French

French–English

English–German

German–English

English–Indonesian

Indonesian–English

English–Italian

Italian–English

English–Japanese

Japanese–English

English–Norwegian

Norwegian–English

English–Polish

Polish–English

English–Portuguese

Portuguese–English

English–Spanish

Spanish–English

English–Swedish

Swedish–English

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

English–Arabic

English–Bengali

English–Catalan

English–Czech

English–Danish

English–Gujarati

English–Hindi

English–Korean

English–Malay

English–Marathi

English–Russian

English–Tamil

English–Telugu

English–Thai

English–Turkish

English–Ukrainian

English–Urdu

English–Vietnamese

Translate

Grammar

Thesaurus

Pronunciation

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Shop

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Log in /

Sign up

English (UK)  

Change

English (UK)

English (US)

Español

Русский

Português

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

中文 (简体)

正體中文 (繁體)

Polski

한국어

Türkçe

日本語

Tiếng Việt

Nederlands

Svenska

Dansk

Norsk

हिंदी

বাঙ্গালি

मराठी

ગુજરાતી

தமிழ்

తెలుగు

Українська

Follow us

Choose a dictionary

Recent and Recommended

Definitions

Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English

English

Learner’s Dictionary

Essential British English

Essential American English

Grammar and thesaurus

Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English

Grammar

Thesaurus

Pronunciation

British and American pronunciations with audio

English Pronunciation

Translation

Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.

Bilingual Dictionaries

English–Chinese (Simplified)

Chinese (Simplified)–English

English–Chinese (Traditional)

Chinese (Traditional)–English

English–Dutch

Dutch–English

English–French

French–English

English–German

German–English

English–Indonesian

Indonesian–English

English–Italian

Italian–English

English–Japanese

Japanese–English

English–Norwegian

Norwegian–English

English–Polish

Polish–English

English–Portuguese

Portuguese–English

English–Spanish

Spanish–English

English–Swedish

Swedish–English

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

English–Arabic

English–Bengali

English–Catalan

English–Czech

English–Danish

English–Gujarati

English–Hindi

English–Korean

English–Malay

English–Marathi

English–Russian

English–Tamil

English–Telugu

English–Thai

English–Turkish

English–Ukrainian

English–Urdu

English–Vietnamese

Dictionary +Plus

Word Lists

Choose your language

English (UK)  

English (US)

Español

Русский

Português

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

中文 (简体)

正體中文 (繁體)

Polski

한국어

Türkçe

日本語

Tiếng Việt

Nederlands

Svenska

Dansk

Norsk

हिंदी

বাঙ্গালি

मराठी

ગુજરાતી

தமிழ்

తెలుగు

Українська

Contents

 Adjectives and adverbs Adjectives Adjectives Adjectives: forms Adjectives: order Adjective phrases Adjective phrases: functions Adjective phrases: position Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors Comparative and superlative adjectives Comparison: adjectives (bigger, biggest, more interesting) Comparison: clauses (bigger than we had imagined) Comparison: comparisons of equality (as tall as his father) As … as Adverbs Adverbs Adverb phrases Adverbs and adverb phrases: position Adverbs and adverb phrases: typical errors Adverbs: forms Adverbs: functions Adverbs: types Comparison: adverbs (worse, more easily) Degree adverbs Fairly Intensifiers (very, at all) Largely Much, a lot, lots, a good deal: adverbs Pretty Quite Rather Really Scarcely Very Time adverbs About Ago Already Always Early Ever Hardly ever, rarely, scarcely, seldom Next No longer, not any longer No more, not any more Now Often Once Soon Still Then Usually Eventually Adverbs as discourse markers (anyway, finally) Adverbs as short responses (definitely, certainly) Using adjectives and adverbs Afraid Alike Hard Long Only Same, similar, identical Likely and unlikely As well (as) Even Hardly Hopefully Surely Too Ultimately Easily confused words Above or over? Across, over or through? Advice or advise? Affect or effect? All or every? All or whole? Allow, permit or let? Almost or nearly? Alone, lonely, or lonesome? Along or alongside? Already, still or yet? Also, as well or too? Alternate(ly), alternative(ly) Although or though? Altogether or all together? Amount of, number of or quantity of? Any more or anymore? Anyone, anybody or anything? Apart from or except for? Arise or rise? Around or round? Arouse or rouse? As or like? As, because or since? As, when or while? Been or gone? Begin or start? Beside or besides? Between or among? Born or borne? Bring, take and fetch Can, could or may? Classic or classical? Come or go? Consider or regard? Consist, comprise or compose? Content or contents? Different from, different to or different than? Do or make? Down, downwards or downward? During or for? Each or every? East or eastern; north or northern? Economic or economical? Efficient or effective? Elder, eldest or older, oldest? End or finish? Especially or specially? Except or except for? Expect, hope or wait? Experience or experiment? Fall or fall down? Far or a long way? Farther, farthest or further, furthest? Fast, quick or quickly? Fell or felt? Female or feminine; male or masculine? Finally, at last, lastly or in the end? First, firstly or at first? Fit or suit? Following or the following? For or since? Forget or leave? Full or filled? Fun or funny? Get or go? Grateful or thankful? Hear or listen (to)? High or tall? Historic or historical? House or home? How is …? or What is … like? If or when? If or whether? Ill or sick? Imply or infer? In the way or on the way? It’s or its? Late or lately? Lay or lie? Lend or borrow? Less or fewer? Look at, see or watch? Low or short? Man, mankind or people? Maybe or may be? Maybe or perhaps? Nearest or next? Never or not … ever? Nice or sympathetic? No doubt or without doubt? No or not? Nowadays, these days or today? Open or opened? Opportunity or possibility? Opposite or in front of? Other, others, the other or another? Out or out of? Permit or permission? Person, persons or people? Pick or pick up? Play or game? Politics, political, politician or policy? Price or prize? Principal or principle? Quiet or quite? Raise or rise? Remember or remind? Right or rightly? Rob or steal? Say or tell? So that or in order that? Sometimes or sometime? Sound or noise? Speak or talk? Such or so? There, their or they’re? Towards or toward? Wait or wait for? Wake, wake up or awaken? Worth or worthwhile? Nouns, pronouns and determiners Determiners A/an and the Determiners (the, my, some, this) Determiners and types of noun Determiners: position and order Determiners: typical errors Determiners used as pronouns Every Possession (John’s car, a friend of mine) Such This, that, these, those Whole Nouns Nouns Nouns: form Nouns and prepositions Nouns: compound nouns Nouns: countable and uncountable Nouns: forming nouns from other words Nouns: singular and plural Uncountable nouns Accommodation Equipment Furniture Information Luck and lucky News Progress Weather Noun phrases Noun phrases: dependent words Noun phrases: order Noun phrases: uses Noun phrases: noun phrases and verbs Noun phrases: two noun phrases together Pronouns Pronouns Each other, one another Everyone, everybody, everything, everywhere It Gender No one, nobody, nothing, nowhere One One and one’s Pronouns: personal (I, me, you, him, it, they, etc.) Pronouns: possessive (my, mine, your, yours, etc.) Pronouns: reflexive (myself, themselves, etc.) Pronouns: indefinite (-body, -one, -thing, -where) Pronouns: one, you, we, they Relative pronouns Questions: interrogative pronouns (what, who) Someone, somebody, something, somewhere That Quantifiers A bit All Any Both Either Enough Least, the least, at least Less Little, a little, few, a few Lots, a lot, plenty Many More Most, the most, mostly Much, many, a lot of, lots of: quantifiers No, none and none of Plenty Some Some and any Question words How What When Where Which Who, whom Whose Why Using nouns Piece words and group words Comparison: nouns (more money, the most points) Nouns and gender Reported speech: reporting nouns Age Half Holiday and holidays Mind Opinion Promise Reason Sort, type and kind Thing and stuff View Way Work (noun) Prepositions and particles Prepositions Prepositional phrases Above After, afterwards Against Among and amongst As At At, in and to (movement) At, on and in (place) At, on and in (time) Below Beneath Beyond By During For For + -ing From In front of In spite of and despite In, into Near and near to Of On, onto Over To Under Until With Within Without Using English Collocation Functions Commands and instructions Commentaries Invitations Offers Requests Greetings and farewells: hello, goodbye, Happy New Year Suggestions Telephoning Warnings Numbers Dates Measurements Number Time People and places Geographical places Names and titles: addressing people Nationalities, languages, countries and regions Place names Place and movement Abroad Away and away from Back Inside Nearby Outside Up Politeness Reported speech Reported speech Reported speech: direct speech Reported speech: indirect speech Sexist language Spoken English Pronunciation Intonation Politeness Interjections (ouch, hooray) Tags Chunks Ellipsis Headers and tails Hyperbole Vague expressions Downtoners Hedges (just) Substitution All right and alright Please and thank you Here and there Just Kind of and sort of Oh So and not with expect, hope, think, etc. So Yes Anyway Discourse markers (so, right, okay) In fact Okay, OK Well You know You see Types of English British and American English Dialect Double negatives and usage Formal and informal language Newspaper headlines Register Slang Standard and non-standard language Swearing and taboo expressions Useful phrases According to Actual and actually Approximations (around four o’clock) At all Else Hear that, see that However, whatever, whichever, whenever, wherever, whoever It’s time May as well and might as well More or less Of course Point of view Writing Apostrophe (’) Apposition Contractions Contrasts Detached impersonal style Internet discourse and text messages It, this and that in paragraphs Paragraphs Punctuation Speech into writing Spelling Such as Verbs Tenses and time Past Past simple (I worked) Past continuous (I was working) Past continuous or past simple? Past simple or present perfect? Used to Past perfect simple (I had worked) Past perfect continuous (I had been working) Past perfect simple or past perfect continuous? Past perfect simple or past simple? Past verb forms referring to the present Past: typical errors Present Present continuous (I am working) Present perfect continuous (I have been working) Present perfect simple (I have worked) Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous? Present perfect: typical errors Present simple (I work) Present simple or present continuous? Present: typical errors Present verb forms referring to the past Future Future: will and shall Future: be going to (I am going to work) Future: other expressions to talk about the future Future continuous (I will be working) Future in the past Future perfect continuous (I will have been working here ten years) Future perfect simple (I will have worked eight hours) Future: present continuous to talk about the future (I’m working tomorrow) Future: present simple to talk about the future (I work tomorrow) Future: typical errors Going to Verb forms Finite and non-finite verbs Imperative clauses (Be quiet!) Infinitives with and without to Infinitive: active or passive? Perfect infinitive with to (to have worked) Verbs: basic forms Verbs: formation Verb patterns Hate, like, love and prefer Hear, see, etc. + object + infinitive or -ing Help somebody (to) do Look forward to Stop + -ing form or to-infinitive Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -ing? Verb patterns: verb + that-clause Verb patterns: with and without objects Would like Would rather, would sooner Phrasal verbs and multi-word verbs Passive voice Get passive Have something done Passive: forms Passives with and without an agent Passive: uses Passive: other forms Passive: typical errors Modal verbs and modality Can Could Could, may and might Dare Had better May Might Modality: forms Modality: meanings and uses Modality: tense Modality: other verbs Modality: other modal words and expressions Must Need Ought to Shall Should Will Would Conditionals and wishes Conditionals Conditionals: if Conditionals: other expressions (unless, should, as long as) Conditionals: typical errors If only In case (of) Suppose, supposing and what if Wish Using verbs Verbs: types Verb phrases Verbs and verb phrases: typical errors Appear Ask and ask for Be Be expressions (be able to, be due to) Come Do Enable Enjoy Explain Get Go Happen Have Have got and have Hope Know Let, let’s Like Look Made from, made of, made out of, made with Make Marry and divorce Matter Mean Miss Prefer Put See Seem Suggest Take Think Want Table of irregular verbs Words, sentences and clauses Word classes and phrase classes Word formation Word formation Prefixes Suffixes Compounds Abbreviations, initials and acronyms -ish and -y Diminutives (-let, -y and mini-) Hyphens Word order and focus Word order and focus Word order: structures Cleft sentences (It was in June we got married.) Fronting Inversion No sooner Not only … but also Conjunctions and linking words And As if and as though As long as and so long as Because, because of and cos, cos of Before But Conjunctions Conjunctions: adding Conjunctions: causes, reasons, results and purpose Conjunctions: contrasting Conjunctions: time Either … or… If In order to Or Since Unless Whereas Whether While and whilst Yet Clauses and sentences Adjuncts Clauses Clauses: finite and non-finite Clause types Complements Dummy subjects Exclamations Heads Objects Sentences Subjects Subject complements Subject–verb agreement Relative clauses Relative clauses Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence Relative clauses: defining and non-defining Relative clauses: typical errors Negation Negation Neither, neither … nor and not … either Not Neither, neither … nor and not … either Not Forming negative statements, questions and imperatives Negation: two negatives Negative clauses with any, anybody, anyone, anything, anywhere Negation in non-finite clauses Negative prefixes and suffixes Negative adverbs: hardly, seldom, etc. Negation: emphasising Negation of think, believe, suppose, hope  Questions Questions: alternative questions (Is it black or grey?) Questions: statement questions (you’re over 18?) Questions: two-step questions Questions: typical errors Questions: wh-questions Questions: yes-no questions (Are you feeling cold?) Questions: follow-up questions Questions: echo and checking questions Questions: short forms

My word lists

Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

More

Go to your word lists

Tell us about this example sentence:

The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel

Submit

The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel

Submit

“Laying” vs. “Lying” (“Lay” vs. “Lie”)–What’s the Difference? | Grammarly

“Laying” vs. “Lying” (“Lay” vs. “Lie”)–What’s the Difference? | Grammarly

Grammarly HomeProductLearnFeaturesProduct DemoTrust & SecurityDownloadDesktopMobileBrowserWorkBy Team SizeEnterpriseTeams & BusinessesIndividualsBy Team FunctionCustomer SupportMarketingITSalesHREducationStudentsInstitutionsPricingResourcesLearnBlogCustomer StoriesBusiness Events & ReportsEducation Events & ReportsSupport CenterToolsAI Writing ToolsGrammar CheckerPlagiarism CheckerParaphrasing ToolContact SalesLog inGet GrammarlyIt's freeGrammarly HomeProductLearnFeaturesProduct DemoTrust & SecurityDownloadDesktopMobileBrowserWorkBy Team SizeEnterpriseTeams & BusinessesIndividualsBy Team FunctionCustomer SupportMarketingITSalesHREducationStudentsInstitutionsPricingResourcesLearnBlogCustomer StoriesBusiness Events & ReportsEducation Events & ReportsSupport CenterToolsAI Writing ToolsGrammar CheckerPlagiarism CheckerParaphrasing ToolGet GrammarlyIt's freeContact SalesLog inGrammarly Blog HomeWritingWriting TipsGrammarStudentsProfessionalsLifestyleProductCompanyGrammarly HomeWritingWriting TipsGrammarStudentsProfessionalsLifestyleProductCompanyGet GrammarlyIt's freeContact SalesLog in“Laying” vs. “Lying” (“Lay” vs. “Lie”)–What’s the Difference?GrammarlyUpdated on June 22, 2023GrammarThe words lay and lie are similar, but not the same. If you’ve ever been confused about which word to use and when to use it, you’re not alone. Here we’ll look at the differences between the two words, and how to use them correctly, with examples.

Lay vs. lie: What’s the difference?

The words lie and lay have similar meanings: 

lie means to be in or put yourself in a horizontal resting position

lay means to put someone or something else in a horizontal resting position

What’s the difference between lay and lie? The word lay is a transitive verb, which means it uses a direct object. The word lie is an intransitive verb, which means it does not use a direct object.

You lie down, but you lay something down. Lie does not require a direct object. Lay requires a direct object. The same rules apply to laying and lying (never “lieing”—beware of spelling). The past tense of lay is laid, but be careful with the past tense of lie—there are two options. We’ll dive into them later.

Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your text, so your work is polished wherever you write.

When to use lay

To lay is to set (or otherwise place) something in a resting position. Here are a few examples of lay in a sentence:

I don’t like to lay my purse on the floor.

The dogs always lay their toys next to their water bowls.

How to use lie

A lie is an untruth. However, it’s the verb form of lie that people find difficult to distinguish from lay. The verb lie can mean to tell a falsehood. Here’s an example of that version of lie in a sentence:

Sometimes children lie to get out of trouble.

If to tell an untruth were the only meaning of lie, using these two words properly would be less of a challenge. However, lie can also mean to recline or to rest in a flat position. Look at this example:

The fat cat likes to lie in the sun.

How to remember the difference between lay and lie

(pLAce) and (recLIne)

This mnemonic should help you remember that lay, which begins with the letters L-A, has a long a sound like the one in its definition: to place. On the other hand, lie, which starts with the letters L-I, has a long sound like the one in its definition: to recline.

How should I use lay and lie?

Knowing the definitions of lay and lie helps, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you exactly how to use them in a sentence. Remember, lay needs a direct object, while lie never has a direct object. Here are two of the examples again to show these properties of lay and lie.

I don’t like to lay my purse on the floor.

In this example, my purse is the direct object of the transitive verb lay.

The fat cat likes to lie in the sun.

In this sentence, the intransitive verb lie stands alone; it has no direct object.

There’s still one more thing you need to know: So far, we’ve been using the verbs lay and lie in their infinitive/present tense forms. But when you are talking about reclining, the past tense of lie is lay, which definitely contributes to the confusion! Here’s an example:

Yesterday, he lay down to sleep at ten o’clock. Tonight, he won’t lie down until midnight.

Laying vs. lying

Beware of spelling! The present participle of lie is not lieing. The i becomes a y: lying. Here is a mnemonic to help you tell laying and lying apart: “If you tell an untruth, it is a lie, not a lay; and if you are in the process of telling an untruth you are lying, not laying.”

The delivery boy took pleasure in gingerly laying each newspaper on the stoop.

I can always tell when my friend is lying because she bites her lip.

I spend rainy days lying on my couch.

Don’t leave dirty clothes lying around the house.

More conjugations of lay and lie

The past tense of lie (as in to tell an untruth) is lied. As we mentioned above, the past tense of lie (as in to recline) is lay. The past tense of lay is laid, which is another recipe for confusion! To remember that laid (as opposed to lain, the past participle of lie) is the past tense of lay, just remember: Use a d when there is a direct object. Because you need a direct object only with lay, you will know that the past tense is laid.

I laid the book down to listen to what my sister was telling me.

In this example, book is the direct object of laid, the past tense form of the transitive verb lay.

Present

Past

Past participle

lie

lay

lain

lay

laid

laid

Examples of lay and lie

“I would like to lie next to him in the dark and watch him breathe and watch him sleep and wonder what he’s dreaming about and not get an inferiority complex if the dreams aren’t about me.” —Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist

“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits.” —George Orwell, Animal Farm

Did the examples help you figure out the difference between lay and lie? If you have mastered this commonly confused pair, try your hand at loose vs. lose and entitled vs. titled.

Your writing, at its best.Get GrammarlyIt's freeWorks on all your favorite websitesRelated ArticlesGrammarWhat Are Verbs With “S”?GrammarWhat Part of Speech Is “Was”?GrammarTest Grammar: Essential English Grammar to Ace Your Next TestGrammarWhat Are Split Infinitives? Meaning and ExamplesGrammar4 Types of Sentences to KnowGrammarMastering End-of-Sentence Punctuation: Periods, Question Marks, Exclamation Points, and MoreWriting, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox.subscribeGet GrammarlyGrammarly for Your DesktopGrammarly for WindowsGrammarly for MacGrammarly Browser ExtensionGrammarly for ChromeGrammarly for SafariGrammarly for FirefoxGrammarly for EdgeGrammarly for MS OfficeGrammarly for Google DocsGrammarly for MobileGrammarly for iPhoneGrammarly for iPadGrammarly for AndroidLearn MorePlansGrammarly PremiumGrammarly BusinessGrammarly for EducationGenerative AIBlogTech BlogEducation BlogBusiness BlogFeaturesGrammar CheckerPlagiarism CheckerCitation GeneratorEssay CheckerParaphrasing ToolAI Writing ToolsTone DetectorStyle GuideSnippetsAnalyticsBrand TonesCompanyAboutWe Stand With UkraineResponsible AICareers & CulturePressAffiliatesPartnersTrust CenterPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceCustomer Business AgreementCA Privacy NoticeSecurityAccessibilityConnectHelp CenterContact Us Facebook Instagram X LinkedIn2024 © Grammarly Inc.

'Lay' vs. 'Lie': Which is Right? | Merriam-Webster

'Lay' vs. 'Lie': Which is Right? | Merriam-Webster

Menu Toggle

Merriam-Webster Logo

Games & Quizzes

Games & Quizzes

Word of the Day

Grammar

Wordplay

Word Finder

Thesaurus

Join MWU

Shop

Books

Merch

Settings

My Words

Recents

Account

Log Out

More

Thesaurus

Join MWU

Shop

Books

Merch

Log In

Username

My Words

Recents

Account

Log Out

Est. 1828

Popular in

Commonly Confused

'Canceled' or 'Cancelled'?

'Virus' vs. 'Bacteria'

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Is It 'jail' or 'prison'?

'Deduction' vs. 'Induction' vs. 'Abduction'

See All

Popular in

Grammar & Usage

Words Commonly Mispronounced

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Is 'Irregardless' a Real Word?

8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But Forgot

Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms

See All

Popular in

Wordplay

Word Icons

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

'Arsy-Varsy,' and Other Snappy Reduplicatives

The Words of the Week - Mar. 8

See All

Grammar & Usage

Commonly Confused

Popular

How to Use 'Lay' and 'Lie'

Tripping Up English Speakers for 700 Years

What to Know

Lay means "to place something down flat," while lie means "to be in a flat position on a surface." The key difference is that lay is transitive and requires an object to act upon, and lie is intransitive, describing something moving on its own or already in position. Beyond the present tense, the pair can become more confusing because lay is the past tense of lie, and laid is the past tense of lay.

Ever been corrected—or corrected someone else—for saying "I'm going to lay down"? In either case, your dictionary forgives you. It's true that the correct way to make that statement is to say "I'm going to lie down," but it's also true that lay and lie have been tripping up English speakers for 700 years, and no one should be judged harshly for being among the confused. The pair is a doozy.

Difference Between Lay and Lie

If you're someone who cares about writing and speaking carefully, though, your communication skills will be strengthened by keeping them straight, so here's the lowdown. Lay's most common meaning is "to place (something or someone) down in a flat position." Lie's corresponding meaning is "to be in a flat position on a surface." Lay is transitive; it requires that the verb have an object; there has to be a thing or person being placed: Lay it down. Lie, on the other hand, is intransitive. It's for something or someone moving on their own or something that's already in position: You can lie down there. You can lie there all day.

Other Tenses of Lay and Lie

That's tricky enough, but it gets worse when we start using the words beyond the present tense. Here's lay in context in tenses that show its principal forms:

I was told to lay the book down.

I laid it down as I have laid other books down.

I am laying more books down now.

And here's lie:

I was told to lie down.

I lay down.

I have lain here since.

I'm still lying here.

Did you catch that? For lay, we have lay, laid, have laid, laying; for lie, we have lie, lay, have lain, lying. And then there's the unrelated verb meaning "to tell an untruth." That lie goes lie, lied, have lied, lying.

Yes, it's really that complicated. We apologize. If you want to brush up, focus on the present and past tenses—they do most of the work by far—and check the dictionary entries when you're not sure.

And even if you are certain, give the other guy a break.

Share

Word of the Day

ulterior

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Games & Quizzes

See All

Quordle

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Blossom Word Game

You can make only 12 words. Pick the best ones!

Play

Missing Letter

A crossword with a twist

Play

Spelling Bee Quiz

Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...

Take the quiz

Popular

Close

Commonly Confused

'Canceled' or 'Cancelled'?

'Virus' vs. 'Bacteria'

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Is It 'jail' or 'prison'?

'Deduction' vs. 'Induction' vs. 'Abduction'

See All

Grammar & Usage

Words Commonly Mispronounced

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Is 'Irregardless' a Real Word?

8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But Forgot

Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms

See All

Wordplay

Word Icons

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

'Arsy-Varsy,' and Other Snappy Reduplicatives

The Words of the Week - Mar. 8

See All

Merriam Webster

Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!

Help

About Us

Advertising Info

Contact Us

Diversity

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

© 2024 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

lay verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

lay verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Toggle navigation

Redeem

Upgrade

Help

Sign in

Dictionaries

Dictionaries home

English

American English

Academic

Collocations

German-English

Grammar

Grammar home

Practical English Usage

Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)

Word Lists

Word Lists home

My Word Lists

Topics

Recent additions

Resources

Resources home

Text Checker

Sign in

Dictionaries

Dictionaries home

English

American English

Academic

Collocations

German-English

Grammar

Grammar home

Practical English Usage

Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)

Word Lists

Word Lists home

My Word Lists

Topics

Recent additions

Resources

Resources home

Text Checker

Redeem

Upgrade

Help

TOP

English

English

American English

Academic English

Collocations

Practical English Usage

German-English

English-German

English

American English

Enter search text

Definition of lay verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lay verb   /leɪ/  /leɪ/Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they lay  /leɪ/  /leɪ/ he / she / it lays  /leɪz/  /leɪz/ past simple laid  /leɪd/  /leɪd/ past participle laid  /leɪd/  /leɪd/ -ing form laying  /ˈleɪɪŋ/  /ˈleɪɪŋ/Idioms Phrasal Verbs

jump to other results

put down/spread  [transitive] to put somebody/something in a particular position, especially when it is done gently or carefully lay somebody/something + adv./prep. He laid a hand on my arm.Relatives laid wreaths on the grave.She laid the baby down gently on the bed.Red roses were laid at the memorial.She noticed some paintings laid against the far wall.The horse laid back its ears. lay something His mother visited the murder scene yesterday to lay flowers. lay somebody/something + adj. The cloth should be laid flat.Which Word? lay / lielay / lieLay has an object and lie does notAs soon as he laid his head on the pillow, he fell asleep.Why don't you lie on the bed?Why don’t you lay on the bed?In the past tenses laid (from lay) is often wrongly used for lay or lain (from lie)She had lain there all night.She had laid there all night.Some people use lay as a noun instead of lie, but this is not considered correctIf you're tired, go and have a lie down.Go and have a lay down.Extra ExamplesHe laid the clothes neatly on his bed.She laid the child tenderly on the bed.Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverbcarefullygentlyneatly…prepositiononoveradverbnicelywellclearly…See full entry

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

  [transitive] to spread something on something; to cover something with a layer of something lay A on/over B Before they started they laid newspaper on the floor.The grapes were laid to dry on racks.They carefully laid a blanket over the body. B is laid with A The floor was laid with newspaper.Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverbcarefullygentlyneatly…prepositiononoveradverbnicelywellclearly…See full entry

  [transitive] lay something (down) to put something down, especially on the floor, ready to be usedto lay a carpet/cable/pipeto lay tiles/bricksThe first high-speed track was laid between Paris and Lyons.Thirteen U-boats left their base to lay mines in British waters.The foundations of the house are being laid today. (figurative) A series of short-term goals lays the foundation for long-term success. (figurative) They had laid the groundwork for future development.Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverbcarefullygentlyneatly…prepositiononoveradverbnicelywellclearly…See full entry eggs  [transitive, intransitive] lay (something) if a bird, an insect, a fish, etc. lays eggs, it produces them from its bodyThe cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds' nests.new-laid eggsThe hens are not laying well (= not producing many eggs).Topics Birdsb2, Fish and shellfishb2, Insects, worms, etc.b2 table[transitive] lay something (British English) to arrange knives, forks, plates, etc. on a table ready for a meal synonym setto lay the table present proposal[transitive] lay something + adv./prep. to present a proposal, some information, etc. to somebody for them to think about and decide onThe bill was laid before Parliament. difficult situation[transitive] lay somebody/something + adv./prep. (formal) to put somebody/something in a particular position or state, especially a difficult or unpleasant one synonym placeto lay a responsibility/burden on somebodyto lay somebody under an obligation to do somethingFailing to act now will merely lay the burden on future generations.

with nouns[transitive] lay something + adv./prep. used with a noun to form a phrase that has the same meaning as the verb related to the nounto lay the blame on somebody (= to blame somebody)Our teacher lays great stress on good spelling (= stresses it strongly).Extra ExamplesShe laid the blame for the crisis at the Prime Minister's door.He laid stress on the importance of cooperation. plan/trap[transitive] lay something to prepare something in detailLittle did he know they had laid a trap for him.She began to lay her plans for her escape.Bad weather can upset even the best-laid plans. have sex[transitive, usually passive] lay somebody (slang) to have sex with somebodyHe went out hoping to get laid that night. fire[transitive] lay something to prepare a fire by arranging wood, sticks or coal bet[transitive] to bet money on something; to place a bet lay something to lay a bet lay something on something She had laid $100 on the favourite.I think he’ll come, but I wouldn’t lay money on it. lay (somebody) something (that)… I’ll lay you any money you like (that) he won’t come. This pattern is not used in the passive.

past tense of lie1 Word Originverb Old English lecgan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leggen and German legen, also to lie.Idioms Idioms containing lay are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example lay something bare is at bare. Phrasal Verbslay aboutlay about youlay asidelay downlay inlay intolay offlay onlay outlay overlay upSee lay in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee lay in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation:

lay

Other results

All matches

lay adjective

lay noun

lay

lay-by noun

lay in

lay on

lay up

lay-up noun

lay down

lay into

lay off

lay-off noun

lay out

lay over

lay about

lay aside

Frito-Lay™

lay about you

lay-bys

lay-ups

See more

Phrasal verbs

lay over (at …)

lay over (in …)

lay somebody up

lay something up

lay off something

lay somebody off

lay something on

lay somebody out

lay something out

lay something aside

lay something down

lay into somebody/something

lay something on somebody

lay off | lay off somebody/something

lay about somebody (with something)

lay about you/yourself (with something)

See more

Idioms

lay somebody low

lay it on thick

lay down your arms

lay something bare

lay down the law

lay something waste

lay claim to something

lay it on the line

lay somebody to rest

lay siege to something

lay waste (to) something

lay a finger on somebody

lay/put something to rest

lay it on with a trowel

lay something at somebody’s door

lay/put your cards on the table

lay/get your hands on somebody

lay/get your hands on something

put/lay your head/neck on the block

clap/lay/set eyes on somebody/something

See more

Nearby words

laxative noun

laxity noun

lay verb

lay adjective

lay noun

boost

verb

From the Topic

Change, cause and effect

B2

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

Browse Dictionaries & Grammar

Search Box

System Requirements

Contact Us

More from us

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries API

English Language Teaching

Oxford Teacher's Club

Oxford Learner's Bookshelf

Oxford Languages

Who we are

About Us

Our history

Annual report

The way we work

Working for OUP

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Consent Management

Terms & Conditions

Accessibility

Legal Notice

English (UK)

English (US)

© 2024 Oxford University Press

Lay Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

Lay Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

The Britannica Dictionary

mobile search

Home

Ask the Editor

Word of the Day

Quizzes

Core Vocabulary

Browse the Dictionary

×

Britannica Homepage

Ask the Editor

Word of the Day

Quizzes

Core Vocabulary

Browse the Dictionary

The Britannica Dictionary

lay

25 ENTRIES FOUND:

lay (verb)

lay (noun)

lay

lay (adjective)

lay–by (noun)

lay of the land (noun)

arm (noun)

card (noun)

door (noun)

egg (noun)

eye (noun)

finger (noun)

golden (adjective)

goose (noun)

hand (noun)

hold (noun)

law (noun)

lie (verb)

life (noun)

line (noun)

rest (noun)

siege (noun)

table (noun)

thick (adverb)

waste (noun)

1

lay

/ˈleɪ/

verb

lays;

laid

/ˈleɪd/

;

laying

1

lay

/ˈleɪ/

verb

lays;

laid

/ˈleɪd/

;

laying

Britannica Dictionary definition of LAY

1 

[+ object]

:

to place (someone or something) down gently in a flat position

Lay the fabric carefully on the table.

He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

She laid the baby in his crib for a nap.

He says that he never laid a finger/hand on her. [=that he never touched her]

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

— often + down

He laid the newspaper down on the desk.

She laid the baby down for his nap.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

—

see also lay down (below)

2 

[+ object]

a 

:

to place (something) into position on or along a surface

:

to build or set (something) on or in the ground or another surface

When will they lay the foundation for the addition?

lay tracks for the new railroad

lay pipe/cable/lines

laying bricks

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

— often + down

laying down a new road/carpet

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

— often used figuratively

We are laying the groundwork/foundation [=providing conditions] for additional research.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

b 

chiefly US

:

to spread (something) over a surface

lay plaster/paint

lay wallpaper

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

3 

[+ object]

:

bury 1a

They laid him in his grave.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

4 

[no object]

informal

:

to be in a flat position on a surface

:

lie

The book was laying on the table.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

◊ The use of lay to mean “lie” occurs commonly in informal speech but it is regarded as an error by many people.

5 

[+ object]

a 

:

to beat or strike (something) down with force

The wheat was laid flat by the wind and rain.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

b 

:

to change the condition of something in a specified way

The mountainside has been laid bare by loggers. [=all the trees on the mountainside have been cut down by loggers]

He laid bare his soul. = He laid his soul bare. [=he revealed his most private thoughts and feelings]

He laid himself open to criticism [=he exposed himself to criticism] with his remarks.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

6 

of a bird, insect, etc.

:

to produce (an egg) outside of the body

:

to push (an egg) out of the body

[+ object]

birds that typically lay only two eggs per year

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

[no object]

old chickens that no longer lay

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

—

see also lay an egg at 1egg

7 

[+ object]

— used like make, place, or put in various phrases

She has laid plans [=she has made plans] to cut the staff down to just 15 people.

Even the best-laid plans [=the most carefully made plans] sometimes go wrong.

She lays great stress/emphasis on good manners. [=she stresses/emphasizes good manners very much]

The author lays the blame/responsibility for the state of the environment squarely on the government. [=the author blames the government for the state of the environment]

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

8 

[+ object]

:

to make (something) ready

:

to prepare (something)

lay a trap

lay a fire in the fireplace

(Brit) Places were laid (at the table) for three people. [=silverware, glasses, and napkins were put on the table for three people who will be eating there]

(Brit) lay [=set] the table for a meal

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

9 

[+ object]

informal

:

to risk losing (money) if your guess about what will happen is wrong

:

bet

lay money on a race

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

10 

[+ object]

informal + offensive

:

to have sex with someone

— usually used in the phrase get laid

All he cares about is getting laid. [=having sex]

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay aside

[phrasal verb]

1 

lay (something) aside

or

lay aside (something)

:

to place (something) to one side

She laid aside [=put aside, set aside] the book she had been reading and turned on the TV.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

— often used figuratively

Plans for a new school have been laid aside [=put aside, set aside] for now until more money can be raised.

It's time for all of us to lay aside old prejudices.

We need to lay our differences aside so that we can learn to work together.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

2 

:

to keep (something) for special or future use

:

to reserve or save (something)

She has been able to lay aside [=put aside] a few dollars each week.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay by

[phrasal verb]

lay (something) by

or

lay by (something)

:

to keep (something) for special or future use

She has been able to lay by [=lay aside] a few dollars each week.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay charges

British

:

to accuse someone officially of doing something illegal

Police are deciding whether to lay charges (against her).

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay claim to

—

see 2claim

lay down

[phrasal verb]

1 

lay (something) down

or

lay down (something)

a 

:

to clearly state (a rule, standard, guideline, etc.)

The company has laid down strict new safety standards.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

b 

:

to stop using (something)

At noon, we laid down the rakes and rested for a while.

The strikers laid down their tools.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

2 

lay (a weapon) down

or

lay down (a weapon)

:

to put (a weapon) down and stop fighting

The police ordered the criminals to lay down their weapons.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

3 

lay down your life

formal

:

to give up your life for a good purpose

:

to die for a good cause

heroes who laid down their lives to preserve our nation

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

4 

lay down the law

:

to make a strong statement about what someone is or is not allowed to do

The agreement lays down the law (to everyone) on what the group allows.

When she came home after midnight, her father laid down the law: if she came home that late again, she would not be allowed to watch TV for a week.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

—

see also 1lay 1 (above)

lay eyes on

—

see 1eye

lay hold of

—

see 2hold

lay in

[phrasal verb]

lay (something) in

or

lay in (something)

:

to get and store (a supply of something) for future use

They laid in [=laid up] canned goods for the winter.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay into

[phrasal verb]

lay into (someone or something)

informal

:

to angrily attack or criticize (someone or something)

The coach really laid into us for playing so carelessly.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay it on the line

—

see 1line

lay off

[phrasal verb]

1 

lay (someone) off

or

lay off (someone)

:

to stop employing (someone) because there is not enough work

The company has had to lay off most of the staff.

Costs have increased and many workers have been laid off. [=let go]

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

—

see also layoff

2 

lay off (something)

informal

:

to stop doing, using, eating, or drinking (something)

You should lay off the late nights. [=you should stop staying up so late]

My doctor advised me to lay off caffeine.

He's a much nicer person since he laid off the booze. [=since he stopped drinking alcohol]

I need to lay off fatty foods and lose some weight.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

3 

lay off

or

lay off (someone)

informal

:

to leave someone alone

:

to stop annoying someone

I wish you'd just lay off!

Lay off me! [=stop bothering me]

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay on

[phrasal verb]

1 

lay (something) on

or

lay on (something)

a 

:

to spread (something) over a surface

Try to lay the grout on the surface evenly.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

— often used figuratively

(informal) My parents have been laying a lot of guilt on me. [=have been saying things that make me feel guilty]

(informal) If you have something to tell me, just lay it on me. [=just tell me]

He laid the flattery on pretty heavily.

She laid on a fake southern accent. [=she spoke with a southern accent although she doesn't usually speak that way]

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

b 

British

:

to provide (something) for someone

If a lot of people want to come, more coaches will be laid on for them.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

2 

lay it on (thick)

informal

:

to speak in a way that is exaggerated and not sincere

You should compliment her cooking but don't lay it on too thick or she'll know you don't mean it.

He laid it on pretty heavily and pretended to be interested in what she said.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay out

[phrasal verb]

1 

lay (something) out

or

lay out (something)

a 

:

to place (something) on a surface in a carefully arranged way

The wires were laid out along the floor.

Brochures were laid out on a table.

She was laying out the cheese and crackers for the guests.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

b 

:

to arrange (something) in a particular pattern or design

The garden was laid out in a formal pattern.

Much of Manhattan is laid out in the form of a grid.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

—

see also layout

c 

:

to plan the details of (something)

She's been hired to lay out [=map out] the election campaign.

The work for tomorrow is all laid out.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

d 

:

to explain the details of (something)

He laid out the reasons for his decision.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

e 

informal

:

to spend (money)

The city laid out millions of dollars for the new stadium.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

—

see also outlay

2 

lay (someone's body) out

or

lay out (someone's body)

:

to prepare (someone's dead body) so that it can be seen by family and friends before it is buried

They laid him out in a plain coffin.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

3 

lay (someone) out

or

lay out (someone)

informal

:

to make (someone) unconscious

:

to knock (someone) out

He laid his opponent out with a hard right to the jaw.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay over

[phrasal verb]

US

1 

:

to make a stop in the middle of a journey

Our flight to Italy laid over in Madrid for several hours.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

2 

lay (someone) over

:

to cause (someone) to stop in the middle of a journey

— usually used as (be) laid over

We were laid over in Madrid for several hours.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

—

see also layover

lay siege to

—

see siege

lay (someone) to rest

—

see 2rest

lay to rest (something)

or

lay (something) to rest

—

see 2rest

lay up

[phrasal verb]

1 

lay (something) up

or

lay up (something)

a 

old-fashioned

:

to store (something)

lay up [=lay in] grain for the winter

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

b 

:

to take (something) out of active use or service

We laid up the boat for the winter.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

2 

lay (someone) up

or

lay up (someone)

:

to cause (someone) to stay at home or in bed because of illness or injury

The flu laid him up for two weeks.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

— usually used as (be) laid up

He was laid up for six weeks with a bad back.

He was laid up by the flu.

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay waste to

:

to cause very bad damage to (something)

The fire laid waste to the land. [=the fire caused great destruction to the land]

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

lay your hands on

—

see 1hand

the goose that lays the golden egg

—

see 1goose

2

lay

/ˈleɪ/

noun

plural

lays

2

lay

/ˈleɪ/

noun

plural

lays

Britannica Dictionary definition of LAY

[count]

informal + offensive

:

a person who is being described as a sexual partner

a great lay

an easy lay [=a person who is very willing to have sex]

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

—

see also lay of the land

3

lay

3

lay

Britannica Dictionary definition of LAY

past tense of

1lie

4

lay

/ˈleɪ/

adjective

4

lay

/ˈleɪ/

adjective

Britannica Dictionary definition of LAY

always used before a noun

1 

:

not trained in a certain profession

:

not having a lot of knowledge about a certain thing

a science magazine written for the lay public

lay and professional readers

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

2 

:

belonging to a religion but not officially a priest, minister, etc.

lay preachers

[+] more examples

[-] hide examples

[+] Example sentences

[-] Hide examples

ASK THE EDITOR

If I say,"My father was a doctor," does this mean that he is no longer living, or that he changed his career?

See the answer »

QUIZZES

Vocabulary Quiz

Test your word power

Take the Quiz »

Name That Thing

Take our visual quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

WORD OF THE DAY

lethargic

: feeling a lack of energy

Learn More »

About Us & Legal Info

Partner Program

Contact Us

Privacy Notice

Terms of Use

Pronunciation Symbols

Help

© 2024 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

LAY Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com

LAY Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com

GamesDaily CrosswordWord PuzzleWord FinderAll gamesFeaturedWord of the DaySynonym of the DayWord of the YearNew wordsLanguage storiesAll featuredPop cultureSlangEmojiMemesAcronymsGender and sexualityAll pop cultureWriting tipsGrammar Coach™Writing hubGrammar essentialsCommonly confusedAll writing tipsGamesFeaturedPop cultureWriting tipslay1[ ley ]show ipaSee synonyms for: laylaidlayer on Thesaurus.comverb (used with object),laid, lay·ing.to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk.to knock or beat down, as from an erect position; strike or throw to the ground: One punch laid him low.to put or place in a particular position: The dog laid its ears back.to cause to be in a particular state or condition: Their motives were laid bare.to set, place, or apply (often followed by to or on): to lay hands on a child.to dispose or place in proper position or in an orderly fashion: to lay bricks.to place on, along, or under a surface: to lay a pipeline.to establish as a basis; set up: to lay the foundations for further negotiations.to present or submit for notice or consideration: I laid my case before the commission.to present, bring forward, or make, as a claim or charge.to impute, attribute, or ascribe: to lay blame on the inspector.to bury: They laid him in the old churchyard.to bring forth and deposit (an egg or eggs).to impose as a burden, duty, penalty, or the like: to lay an embargo on oil shipments.to place dinner service on (a table); set.to place on or over a surface, as paint; cover or spread with something else.to devise or arrange, as a plan.to deposit as a wager; bet: He laid $10 on the horse that won the third race.to set (a trap).to place, set, or locate: The scene is laid in France.to smooth down or make even: to lay the nap of cloth.to cause to subside: laying the clouds of dust with a spray of water.Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.to bring (a stick, lash, etc.) down, as on a person, in inflicting punishment.to form by twisting strands together, as a rope.Nautical. to move or turn (a sailing vessel) into a certain position or direction.to aim a cannon in a specified direction at a specified elevation.to put (dogs) on a scent.See moreverb (used without object),laid, lay·ing.to lay eggs.to wager or bet.to apply oneself vigorously.to deal or aim blows vigorously (usually followed by on, at, about, etc.).Nonstandard. lie2. South Midland U.S. to plan or scheme (often followed by out).Midland and Southern U.S. (of the wind) to diminish; subside: When the wind lays, it'll rain.Nautical. to take up a specified position, direction, etc.: to lay aloft; to lay close to the wind.See morenounthe way or position in which a thing is laid or lies: the lay of the land.Slang: Vulgar. a partner in sexual intercourse.an instance of sexual intercourse.Ropemaking. the quality of a fiber rope characterized by the degree of twist, the angles formed by the strands, and the fibers in the strands.Also called lay-up, spread . (in the garment industry) multiple layers of fabric upon which a pattern or guide is placed for production-line cutting.Textiles. batten3 (defs. 1, 2). a share of the profits or the catch of a whaling or fishing voyage, distributed to officers and crew.See moreVerb Phraseslay aside, to abandon or put to one side.to save for use at a later time; store: to lay aside some money every month.lay away, to reserve for later use; save. to hold merchandise pending final payment or request for delivery: to lay away a winter coat.to bury: They laid him away in the tomb.lay back, Slang. to relax.lay by, to put away for future use; store; save: She had managed to lay by money for college from her earnings as a babysitter.Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to come to a standstill; heave to; lay to.Midland and Southern U.S. to tend (a crop) for the last time, leaving it to mature without further cultivation.lay down, to give up; yield: to lay down one's arms.to assert firmly; state authoritatively: to lay down rigid rules of conduct.to stock; store: to lay down wine.to produce or execute (something) successfully; throw down: In the top of the thirteenth inning, Jones laid down a perfect bunt.Shipbuilding. to draw at full size (the lines of a hull), as on the floor of a mold loft; lay off; loft. lay for, Informal. to wait for in order to attack or surprise; lie in wait for: The police are laying for him.lay in, to store away for future use: We laid in a supply of canned goods.lay into, Informal. to attack physically or verbally; assail: He laid into the opposition with fiery words.lay off, to dismiss (an employee), especially temporarily because of slack business.Informal. to cease or quit: He promised to lay off drinking.Slang. to stop annoying or teasing: Lay off me, will you?Informal. to stop work: They laid off at four and went home.to put aside or take off.to mark off; measure; plot. Slang. to give or hand over; pass on: They laid off their old sofa on the neighborhood recreation center.(of a bookmaker) to transfer all or part of (a wager) to other bookmakers in order to be protected against heavy losses.to get rid of or transfer (blame, responsibility, etc.): He tried to lay off the guilt for the crime on his son.Nautical. to sail away from.Nautical. to remain stationary at a distance from.Shipbuilding. lay1 (def. 47e). lay on, to cover with; apply: to lay on a coat of wax.to strike blows; attack violently: When the mob became unruly, the police began to lay on.Nautical. to sail toward.Nautical. to row (an oar) with a full stroke.Slang. to tell, impart, or give to: Let me lay a little good advice on you.Chiefly British Informal. to provide as a gift, bonus, or treat; give; treat: The owners laid on a Christmas dinner for the employees.lay open, to cut open: to lay open an area of tissue with a scalpel.to expose; reveal: Her autobiography lays open shocking facts about her childhood.to expose or make vulnerable, as to blame, suspicion, or criticism: He was careful not to lay himself open to charges of partiality.lay out, to extend at length.to spread out in order; arrange; prepare. to plan; plot; design. to ready (a corpse) for burial.Informal. to spend or contribute (money).Slang. to knock (someone) down or unconscious.Slang. to scold vehemently; reprimand: Whenever I come home late from school, my mom really lays me out.to make a layout of.Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to absent oneself from school or work without permission or justification; play hooky.lay over, to be postponed until action may be taken: The vote will have to be laid over until next week.to make a stop, as during a trip: We will have to lay over in Lyons on our way to the Riviera.lay to, Nautical. to check the motion of (a ship).Nautical. to put (a ship) in a dock or other place of safety.to attack vigorously.to put forth effort; apply oneself.lay up, to put away for future use; store up.to cause to be confined to bed or kept indoors; disable. Nautical. to retire (a ship) from active use.Nautical. (of a ship) to be retired from active use.to construct (a masonry structure): The masons laid the outer walls up in Flemish bond.to apply (alternate layers of a material and a binder) to form a bonded material.See moreSee More DefinitionsIdioms about layget laid, Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse.lay aboard, Nautical. (formerly, of a fighting ship) to come alongside (another fighting ship) in order to board.lay about one, to strike or aim blows in every direction.to proceed to do; set about.lay a course, Nautical. to sail in the desired direction without tacking.to proceed according to a plan.lay close, Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to sail close to the wind.lay it on, to exaggerate in one's speech or actions, especially to engage in exaggerated flattery or reproof: She was glad to be told what a splendid person she was, but they didn't have to lay it on so much.: Also lay it on thick. lay low. low1 (defs. 50, 51). lay oneself out, Informal. to try one's best; make a great effort: They laid themselves out to see that the reception would be a success.lay siege to. siege (def. 9). See More IdiomsOrigin of lay1First recorded before 900; Middle English layen, leggen, Old English lecgan (causative of licgan “to lie”; cognate with Dutch leggen, German legen, Old Norse legja, Gothic lagjan. see origin at lie2synonym study For lay1. See put. confusables note For layLay1 and lie2 are often confused. Lay is most commonly a transitive verb and takes an object. Its forms are regular. If “place” or “put” can be substituted in a sentence, a form of lay is called for: Lay the folders on the desk. The mason is laying brick. She laid the baby in the crib. Lay also has many intransitive senses, among them “to lay eggs” ( The hens have stopped laying ), and it forms many phrasal verbs, such as lay off “to dismiss (from employment)” or “to stop annoying or teasing” and lay over “to make a stop.” Lie, with the overall senses “to be in a horizontal position, recline” and “to rest, remain, be situated, etc.,” is intransitive and takes no object. Its forms are irregular; its past tense form is identical with the present tense or infinitive form of lay : Lie down, children. Abandoned cars were lying along the road. The dog lay in the shade and watched the kittens play. The folders have lain on the desk since yesterday. In all but the most careful, formal speech, forms of lay are commonly heard in senses normally associated with lie. In edited written English such uses of lay are rare and are usually considered nonstandard: Lay down, children. The dog laid in the shade. Abandoned cars were laying along the road. The folders have laid on the desk since yesterday.Other words for lay1 deposit 22 calm, still, quietSee synonyms for lay on Thesaurus.comWords that may be confused with lay1. lay , lie2 (see usage note at the current entry)2. lay off , layoffWords Nearby layLaxaltlaxationlaxativelaxityLaxnesslaylayaboutlay about onelay a finger onLayamonlay analystOther definitions for lay (2 of 5)lay2[ ley ]show ipaverbsimple past tense of lie2. Other definitions for lay (3 of 5)lay3[ ley ]show ipaadjectivebelonging to, pertaining to, or performed by the people or laity, as distinguished from the clergy: a lay sermon.not belonging to, connected with, or proceeding from a profession, especially the law or medicine.Origin of lay3First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English lai “uneducated; not belonging to the clergy; secular,” from Middle French lai, from Medieval Latin lāicus “pertaining to the people or laity”;see origin at laicOther definitions for lay (4 of 5)lay4[ ley ]show ipanouna short narrative or other poem, especially one to be sung.a song.Origin of lay4First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English lai, lei “a short narrative poem to be sung with musical accompaniment, especially a harp,” from Old French; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Celtic; compare Old Irish láed, laíd “metrical composition, poem, lay”; perhaps from Germanic; compare Middle High German leich “melody, song,” Old Norse lag (in the sense “air, tune”)Other definitions for lay (5 of 5)lay5[ ley ]show ipanoun(on a loom) a movable frame that contains the shuttles, the race plate, and the reed, and that by its oscillating motion beats the filling yarn into place.any movable part of a loom.Origin of lay5First recorded in 1780–90; variant of latheDictionary.com Unabridged

Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024How to use lay in a sentenceIf the organization were in a better financial position — and hadn’t laid off around 25% of its staff this year — it may have kept Notes alive and maybe tried to rework Send.Mozilla shutters Firefox Send and Notes | Frederic Lardinois | September 17, 2020 | TechCrunchWe still think about ourselves as a startup, and when you think about yourself as a startup it’s really hard to lay off employees.Are you ready to start traveling for work again? TripActions’ CEO is banking on it | Michal Lev-Ram, writer | September 15, 2020 | FortuneIf the Eagles didn’t exist, that would be the biggest egg laid on Sunday.We Knew A Football Team Would Win In Week 1. But Maybe Not ‘Football Team.’ | Sara Ziegler (sara.ziegler@fivethirtyeight.com) | September 14, 2020 | FiveThirtyEightNothing protected rank-and-file employees from simply being laid off, and the prime beneficiaries have been shareholders and bondholders as the stock market has soared to new heights.The Big Corporate Rescue and the America That’s Too Small to Save | by Lydia DePillis, Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel | September 12, 2020 | ProPublicaOne of those who may benefit is Ed Miyoshi, who was laid off in December 2016, when he was at 57 and had worked at IBM’s Hopewell Junction, New York, facility for 35 years.The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Confirms a Pattern of Age Discrimination at IBM | by Peter Gosselin, special to ProPublica | September 11, 2020 | ProPublicaOne police officer was coolly dispatched as he lay wounded on the sidewalk.France Mourns—and Hunts | Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTlay the butterflied pork loin on the cutting board with the fat cap facing down.Make Carla Hall’s Roasted Pork Loin With Cranberries | Carla Hall | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe cop lay open-eyed with a grievous head wound as Johnson again checked for a pulse.'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops | Michael Daly | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTGingerly, about 30 couples lay down and squatted on mats and rugs for the mass face-sit.Britain’s Record-Breaking Face-Sitting Porn Protest | Nico Hines | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn their opinion, this would allow conservatives to lay a marker down on immigration while avoiding a shutdown for the time being.Bachmann and Pelosi vs. Boehner and Obama Over Spending Bill | Ben Jacobs | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.Hilda Lessways | Arnold BennettThe seed of discontent was again germinating under the duplicity of the Spanish lay and clerical authorities.The Philippine Islands | John ForemanAt the sight, Felipe flung himself on his knees before her; he kissed the aged hands as they lay trembling in her lap.Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonAlone Orlean lay trying vainly to forget something—something that stood like a spectre before her eyes.The Homesteader | Oscar MicheauxSometimes the child lay so still that Aristide arose to see whether he was alive.The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeSee More ExamplesBritish Dictionary definitions for lay (1 of 4)lay1/ (leɪ) /verblays, laying or laid (leɪd) (mainly tr)to put in a low or horizontal position; cause to lie: to lay a cover on a bedto place, put, or be in a particular state or position: he laid his finger on his lips(intr) not standard to be in a horizontal position; lie: he often lays in bed all the morning(sometimes foll by down) to establish as a basis: to lay a foundation for discussionto place or dispose in the proper position: to lay a carpetto arrange (a table) for eating a mealto prepare (a fire) for lighting by arranging fuel in the grate(also intr) (of birds, esp the domestic hen) to produce (eggs)to present or put forward: he laid his case before the magistrateto impute or attribute: all the blame was laid on himto arrange, devise, or prepare: to lay a trapto place, set, or locate: the scene is laid in Londonto apply on or as if on a surface: to lay a coat of paintto impose as a penalty or burden: to lay a fineto make (a bet) with (someone): I lay you five to one on Princeto cause to settle: to lay the dustto allay; suppress: to lay a rumourto bring down forcefully: to lay a whip on someone's backslang to have sexual intercourse withslang to bet on (a horse) to lose a raceto press down or make smooth: to lay the nap of clothto cut (small trunks or branches of shrubs or trees) halfway through and bend them diagonally to form a hedge: to lay a hedgeto arrange and twist together (strands) in order to form (a rope, cable, etc)military to apply settings of elevation and training to (a weapon) prior to firing(foll by on) hunting to put (hounds or other dogs) onto a scentanother word for inlay(intr; often foll by to or out) dialect, or informal to plan, scheme, or devise(intr) nautical to move or go, esp into a specified position or direction: to lay close to the windlay aboard nautical (formerly) to move alongside a warship to board itlay a course nautical to sail on a planned course without tackingto plan an actionlay bare to reveal or explain: he laid bare his planslay hands on See hands (def. 12)lay hold of to seize or grasplay oneself open to make oneself vulnerable (to criticism, attack, etc): by making such a statement he laid himself open to accusations of favouritismlay open to reveal or discloselay siege to to besiege (a city, etc)See morenounthe manner or position in which something lies or is placedtaboo, slang an act of sexual intercoursea sexual partnera portion of the catch or the profits from a whaling or fishing expeditionthe amount or direction of hoist in the strands of a ropeSee moreOrigin of lay1Old English lecgan; related to Gothic lagjan, Old Norse leggjausage For layIn careful English, the verb lay is used with an object and lie without one: the soldier laid down his arms; the Queen laid a wreath; the book was lying on the table; he was lying on the floor. In informal English, lay is frequently used for lie: the book was laying on the table. All careful writers and speakers observe the distinction even in informal contextsSee also layabout, lay aside, lay away, lay-by, lay down, lay in, lay into, lay off, lay on, lay out, lay over, lay to, lay upBritish Dictionary definitions for lay (2 of 4)lay2/ (leɪ) /adjectiveof, involving, or belonging to people who are not clergynonprofessional or nonspecialist; amateurOrigin of lay2C14: from Old French lai, from Late Latin lāicus, ultimately from Greek laos peopleBritish Dictionary definitions for lay (3 of 4)lay3/ (leɪ) /nouna ballad or short narrative poem, esp one intended to be sunga song or melodyOrigin of lay3C13: from Old French lai, perhaps of Germanic originBritish Dictionary definitions for lay (4 of 4)lay4/ (leɪ) /verbthe past tense of lie 2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition

© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins

Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Other Idioms and Phrases with laylayIn addition to the idioms beginning with laylay about onelay a finger onlay an egglay asidelay at restlay at someone's doorlay a wagerlay awaylay bylay claim tolay downlay down the lawlay eyes onlay forlay hands onlay hold oflay inlay intolay it on the linelay it on thicklay lowlay oddslay offlay of the land, thelay onlay one's cards on the tablelay oneself outlay on the linelay openlay outlay overlay someone lowlay to restlay uplay wastealso see: let it layAlso see underlaid uplieput.See More OriginsThe American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary

Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.Browse#aabbccddeeffgghhiijjkkllmmnnooppqqrrssttuuvvwwxxyyzzAboutCareersShopContact usAdvertise with usCookies, terms, & privacyDo not sell my infoFollow usGet the Word of the Day every day!Sign upBy clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.My account© 2024 Dictionary.com, LLC

lay | meaning of lay in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE

lay | meaning of lay in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE

English

English

English - Japanese

English - Korean

English - Spanish

Japanese - English

Spanish - English

English

English - Japanese

English - Korean

English - Spanish

Japanese - English

Spanish - English

English

日本語

Español latino

한국어

lay From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlaylay1 /leɪ/ verb

 the past tense of lie1→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpuslay• She laid $10 on the favorite, Golden Boy.• It does little more than lay a foundation of principles.• She lay against the pillows, her whole body numb.• He lay down against a wall.• He was laid down on brittle pampas grass and then manhandled by the creatures.• Moyers laid his case before the public.• She unfolded the map and laid it on the table.• Hey, I told him to lay off of me in practice.• Before you start packing, lay out all the clothes on the bed.• There had been long weeks when he lay sunk in gloom and introspection.• He laid the money on the table as they walked out to the stoop.• Turtles lay their eggs on the beach at night.• It was as if a fall lay within her that she wasn't able to make. Related topics: Birdslaylay2 ●●● S1 W2 verb (past tense and past participle laid /leɪd/)

 1 put somebody/something down [transitive always + adverb/preposition]PUT to put someone or something down carefully into a flat position SYN place

 He laid his hand on my shoulder.

 They laid a wreath at the place where so many people died.

 Lay the material flat on the table.► see thesaurus at put

2 → lay bricks/carpet/concrete/cables etc3 bird/insect etc [intransitive, transitive]HBB if a bird, insect etc lays eggs, it produces them from its body

 The flies lay their eggs on decaying meat.

 A cuckoo is able to lay in a range of different nests. 4 table [transitive] British EnglishDF to put the cloth, plates, knives, forks etc on a table, ready for a meal SYN set

 John was laying the table.

 As she spoke, she was laying him a place at the table.5 → lay the foundations/groundwork/base6 give information [transitive] formalACCUSE to make a statement, give information etc in an official or public way SYN put

 Several proposals have been laid before the committee.7 → lay emphasis/stress on something8 → lay a hand/finger on somebody9 → lay something bare/open10 → lay somebody/something open to something 11 → lay waste something12 → lay plans/a trap etc13 → lay claim to (doing) something

14 → lay siege to somebody/something15 → get laid16 lie [intransitive] spoken to be in a position in which you are flat – some people consider this use to be incorrect SYN lie17 risk money [transitive] especially British EnglishRISK to risk an amount of money on the result of a race, sports game etc SYN betlay something on something

 She laid £50 on the favourite, Golden Boy.lay money (that)

 I’d lay money that he will go on to play for England. 18 → lay somebody/something on the line19 → lay something at the door of somebody/something20 → lay somebody low21 → lay somebody to rest22 → lay the ghost (of something) → lay your hands on something, → lay the blame on somebody/something2, → put/lay your cards on the tableGRAMMAR: Comparisonlay• You lay something somewhere: She lays a lace cloth over the table. ✗Don’t say: She lies a lace cloth over the table.• You lay someone somewhere: Lay him down gently.• Lay is also the past tense of lie: I lay on the bed. ✗Don’t say: I laid on the bed.lie• Someone lies somewhere: She was lying on her back.Let’s just lie here for a while. ✗Don’t say: She was laying on her back. | Let’s just lay here for a while.• The past tense of lie is laid: She laid the baby in its cot. ✗Don’t say: She lay the baby in its cot. → lay about somebody → lay something ↔ aside → lay something ↔ down → lay something ↔ in → lay into somebody/something → lay off → lay something on → lay somebody/something ↔ out → lay over → lay up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpuslay• It does little more than lay a foundation of principles.• She lay against the pillows, her whole body numb.• He lay down against a wall.• He was laid down on brittle pampas grass and then manhandled by the creatures.• Hey, I told him to lay off of me in practice.• He laid the money on the table as they walked out to the stoop.• It was as if a fall lay within her that she wasn't able to make.

Lay ... flat• Maude took a scat at the end of the table and laid her hands flat on the dark mahogany.• Melanie was waiting by the Transit holding two sleeping-bags, the sort that you can unzip and lay flat.• There was more scrub there, but not enough for anyone to hide, unless they lay flat.• She spread out her towel and lay flat, adjusting her sunglasses against the glare above.• Spread the sail and lay it flat as possible with the underside uppermost.• Amazingly, she slipped into a gap between the tracks and lay flat as the Intercity 125 rumbled over her.• The wick lay almost flat in a perilously small amount of wax.• They lay flat, under fire.lay ... eggs• Adults grow to varying sizes, depending on food available, and lay eggs in late summer.• They lay their eggs in midwinter, incubating their eggs and chicks through many blizzards.• Instead, it lays its eggs in nests of other birds, and depends on others to hatch and raise its young.• And they mate, laying their eggs in the shallow tepid pools.• In the Nematoda, the sexes are separate and the males are generally smaller than the females which lay eggs or larvae.• She was laying her eggs; the drones were feeding her.• These females do not lay eggs; they give birth to young aphids, all of which are females.• They will come flying up against the wind and lay their eggs, which will soon turn into white grubs. laying the table• But when she turned round, he was laying the table.• Thérèse and Léonie were laying the table.• In the kitchen Anne and Millie are laying the table for dinner, talking seriously.

lay money (that)• It was the talking point of the station, she would lay money on that.Related topics: Christianitylaylay3 ●○○ adjective [only before noun]

 a) NOT KNOWnot trained or not knowing much about a particular profession or subject → layman

 lay witnesses b) RRCRELIGIONnot in an official position in the church

 a lay preacher Examples from the Corpuslay• On the other hand, there is the lay congregation, to whom biblical scholarship is totally unknown territory.• The churches were bereft of most of their clergy and many of their most able lay members.• a lay minister• At the same time, Louis summoned a series of assemblies involving both bishops and lay nobles.• To the lay observer, these technical terms are incomprehensible.• The worship incorporates dreams, healing, trances, and a high degree of lay participation.• In contrast, many elders - leading lay people - are politically more conservative.• With his dark good looks and meticulous personal style, he made a lasting, if rather forbidding impression on lay people.• A non-conformist lay preacher, he fought the November byelection.Related topics: Literaturelaylay4 noun [countable]

 1 → the lay of the land

2 → the lay of something3 → be a good/quick/easy etc lay4 literaryAL a poem or songExamples from the Corpuslay• And the great lays - you can learn them, meantime.• Failure to recognise slopes until committed to landing Make a point of looking for the lay of the surrounding countryside.From Longman Business Dictionarylaylay /leɪ/ verb (past tense and past participle laid) → lay somebody → off → lay something → out→ See Verb tableOrigin lay3 (1300-1400) Old French lai, from Late Latin laicus, from Greek laikos “of the people”, from laos “people” lay4 1. (1800-1900) LAY12. (1200-1300) Old French lai

Quizzes

Quizzes

Take our quick quizzes to practise your vocabulary.

We have thousands of six-question quizzes to try.

Choose from collocations, synonyms, phrasal verbs and more.

More results

lay about somebody

lay something ↔ aside

lay something ↔ down

lay something ↔ in

lay into somebody/something

lay off

lay something on

See all results

Pictures of the day

What are these?

Click on the pictures to check.

Explore topics

Groupings

Drugs, medicines

Organizations

Sculpture

See all topics

Word of the day

trick

something you do in order to deceive someone

Verb tablelaySimple FormPresentI, you, we, theylayhe, she, itlays

> View More

PastI, you, he, she, it, we, theylaidPresent perfectI, you, we, theyhave laidhe, she, ithas laidPast perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad laidFutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill layFuture perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have laid

> View Less

Continuous FormPresentIam layinghe, she, itis laying

> View More

you, we, theyare layingPastI, he, she, itwas layingyou, we, theywere layingPresent perfectI, you, we, theyhave been layinghe, she, ithas been layingPast perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad been layingFutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill be layingFuture perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have been laying

> View Less

Longman translator

Cookie Policy

Privacy Policy

Copyright and legal

Pearson Languages

About LDOCE

How to use

lay verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced American Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

lay verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced American Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Toggle navigation

Redeem

Upgrade

Help

Sign in

Dictionaries

Dictionaries home

English

American English

Academic

Collocations

German-English

Grammar

Grammar home

Practical English Usage

Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)

Word Lists

Word Lists home

My Word Lists

Topics

Recent additions

Resources

Resources home

Text Checker

Sign in

Dictionaries

Dictionaries home

English

American English

Academic

Collocations

German-English

Grammar

Grammar home

Practical English Usage

Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)

Word Lists

Word Lists home

My Word Lists

Topics

Recent additions

Resources

Resources home

Text Checker

Redeem

Upgrade

Help

TOP

American English

English

American English

Academic English

Collocations

Practical English Usage

German-English

English-German

English

American English

Enter search text

Definition of lay verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

  lay verbverb NAmE//leɪ//  see lie1Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they lay  ,  he / she / it lays  ,  past simple laid  -ing form laying  ,   jump to other resultsput down/spread1[transitive] to put someone or something in a particular position, especially when it is done gently or carefully lay somebody/something (+ adv./prep.) She laid the baby down gently on the bed. He laid a hand on my arm. The horse laid back its ears. Relatives laid wreaths on the grave. lay somebody/something + adj. The cloth should be laid flat. Some speakers confuse this sense of lay with lie, especially in the present and progressive tenses. However, lay has an object and lie does not:She was lying on the beach.She was laying on the beach.Why don't you lie on the bed?Why don't you lay on the bed?In the past tenses laid (fromlay) is often wrongly used for lay or lain (fromlie):She had lain there all night.She had laid there all night.

Want to learn more?

Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

2[transitive] lay something (down) to put something down, especially on the floor, ready to be used to lay a carpet/cable/pipe The foundations of the house are being laid today. (figurative) They had laid the groundwork for future development.

3[transitive] to spread something on something; to cover something with a layer of something lay A (on/over B) Before they started they laid newspaper on the floor. The grapes were laid to dry on racks. lay B with A The floor was laid with newspaper. eggs4[transitive, intransitive] lay (something) if a bird, an insect, a fish, etc. lays eggs, it produces them from its body The cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds' nests. newly laid eggs The hens are not laying well (= not producing many eggs). present proposal5[transitive] lay something + adv./prep. to present a proposal, some information, etc. to someone for them to think about and decide on They laid their case before the judge. difficult situation6[transitive] lay something/somebody + adv./prep. (formal) to put someone or something in a particular position or state, especially a difficult or unpleasant one synonym place to lay a responsibility/burden on someone to lay someone under an obligation to do something with nouns7[transitive] lay something + adv./prep. used with a noun to form a phrase that has the same meaning as the verb related to the noun to lay the blame on someone (= to blame someone) Our teacher lays great stress on good spelling (= stresses it strongly).

plan/trap8[transitive] lay something to prepare something in detail to lay a trap for someone She began to lay her plans for her escape. Bad weather can upset even the best-laid plans. fire9[transitive] lay something to prepare a fire by arranging wood, sticks, or coal bet10[transitive] to bet money on something; to place a bet lay something to lay a bet lay something on something She laid $100 on the favorite. Phrasal Verbslay asidelay downlay inlay intolay offlay onlay outlay overlay upSee lay in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: lay

Other results

All matches

lay adjective

lay noun

lie1 verb

lie2 verb

lay in phrasal verb

lay on phrasal verb

lay up phrasal verb

lay down phrasal verb

lay into phrasal verb

lay off phrasal verb

lay out phrasal verb

lay over phrasal verb

lay aside phrasal verb

lay-up noun

lay somebody low

lay it on thick

lay down your arms

lay something bare

lay down the law

lay something waste

See more

Phrasal verbs

lay in phrasal verb

lay on phrasal verb

lay up phrasal verb

lay down phrasal verb

lay into phrasal verb

lay off phrasal verb

lay out phrasal verb

lay over phrasal verb

lay aside phrasal verb

See more

Idioms

lay somebody low

lay it on thick

lay down your arms

lay something bare

lay down the law

lay something waste

lay claim to something

the lay of the land

lay it on the line

lay somebody to rest

lay siege to something

lay waste (to) something

lay a finger on somebody

lay/put something to rest

lay it on with a trowel

lay something at somebody's door

lay/put your cards on the table

lay/set eyes on somebody/something

lay/get your hands on somebody

lay/get your hands on something

See more

Nearby words

lax adjective

laxative noun

lay verb

lay adjective

lay noun

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

Browse Dictionaries & Grammar

Search Box

System Requirements

Contact Us

More from us

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries API

English Language Teaching

Oxford Teacher's Club

Oxford Learner's Bookshelf

Oxford Languages

Who we are

About Us

Our history

Annual report

The way we work

Working for OUP

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Consent Management

Terms & Conditions

Accessibility

Legal Notice

English (UK)

English (US)

© 2024 Oxford University Press