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lay

/leɪ/noun, verb, adjective1 syllable

Lay means: put into a certain place or abstract location.

Synonyms for lay33

noun, as in a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

ballad

noun, as in a narrative poem of popular origin

ballad

verb, as in put into a certain place or abstract location

verb, as in originate (in)

dwell, consist, lie, lie in

verb, as in be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

verb, as in be lying, be prostrate; be in a horizontal position

lie, lie down

verb, as in have a place in relation to something else

verb, as in assume a reclining position

lie down, lie

verb, as in put in a horizontal position

put down, repose

verb, as in be and remain in a particular state or condition

verb, as in tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive

adjective, as in characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy

laic, secular, profane

adjective, as in not of or from a profession

nonprofessional

also used for lay

lie by, lie with, sleep with, Formal terms, bed, coit, coitize, dight, enjoy, feague, ascribe, attribute, accredit, attach, chalk up to

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of lay

What does lay mean?16

verb

1

put into a certain place or abstract location“Put your things here”

2

originate (in)“The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country”

3

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

4

be lying, be prostrate; be in a horizontal position“The sick man lay in bed all day”

5

have a place in relation to something else“The fate of Bosnia lies in the hands of the West”

6

assume a reclining position“lie down on the bed until you feel better”

7

put in a horizontal position“lay the books on the table”

8

be and remain in a particular state or condition“lie dormant”

9

tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive“Don't lie to your parents”

10

prepare or position for action or operation“lay a fire”

11

lay eggs“This hen doesn't lay”

12

impose as a duty, burden, or punishment“lay a responsibility on someone”

adjective

1

characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy“set his collar in laic rather than clerical position”

2

not of or from a profession“a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease”

noun

1

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

2

a narrative poem of popular origin

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with lay?60

Show 40 near rhymes

All 60 rhymes for lay, grouped by syllable

Lay in a sentence

  • The boy lay on his back, basking in the spring sunshine.Zifre
  • Last month, they had to lay off several hundred employees in the factory.CM
  • The city, as far as the eye could see, lay in ruins.AlanF_US
  • She lay awake for a long time, thinking of her future.CM
  • He lay prostrate, ready to ambush the invaders.unknown
  • He was ill, so he lay in bed all day long.CM
  • He lay on a sofa, his eyes closed.sundown
  • The moment she'd finished, she lay down for a nap.unknown

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of lay

as a noun

plural
lays

as a verb

past tense
laid
past participle
laid
present participle
laying
third-person singular
lays