Lay (Verb)
Meaning 1
Put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- She will lay her keys on the coffee table before leaving for work.
- The manager asked employees to lay their complaints down in writing.
- The teacher tried to lay stress on the importance of regular practice.
- The artist began to lay out the exhibition's theme and structure.
- The party's campaign sought to lay the blame squarely on their opponents.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
- Misplace
- Middle
- Ladle
- Throw
- Insert
- Ensconce
- Sit Down
- Place Upright
- Siphon
- Inclose
- Intersperse
- Instal
- Dispose
- Postpose
- Docket
- Ground
- Upend
- Posit
- Recess
- Rack Up
- Marshal
- Stick In
- Settle
- Poise
- Plant
- Nestle
- Superpose
- Perch
- Place Down
- Barrel
- Coffin
- Superimpose
- Arrange
- Pigeonhole
- Position
- Parallelize
- Bottle
- Pillow
- Stand Up
- Set Up
- Reposition
- Put In
- Clap
- Lay Over
- Thrust
- Set
- Underlay
- Sow
- Imbricate
- Jar
- Sit
- Repose
- Snuggle
- Seed
- Prepose
- Pile
- Settle Down
- Recline
- Glycerolize
- Install
- Tee Up
- Rest
- Lean
- Load
- Enclose
- Bed
- Seat
- Cram
- Lay
- Deposit
- Tee
- Put Back
- Butt
- Stand
- Glycerolise
- Space
- Replace
- Fix
- Put Down
- Situate
- Park
- Step
- Ship
- Appose
- Set Down
- Sign
- Cock
- Shelve
- Emplace
- Juxtapose
- Stratify
- Trench
- Bucket
Related Words
Meaning 2
Put in a horizontal position; "lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Lay the children down to sleep in their beds for a nap.
- Please lay the cutlery on the table for dinner.
- Lay the newborn carefully in her crib and make sure she's comfortable.
- She gently lay the injured bird in a small box to care for it.
- Carefully lay the fragile vase on the velvet cloth to protect it.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Impose as a duty, burden, or punishment; "lay a responsibility on someone".
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- The team leader laid the heavy workload on the junior staff, testing their ability to handle the pressure.
- The judge laid a hefty fine on the driver for reckless driving.
- The new policy lays a significant tax burden on high-income earners.
- She laid the burden of responsibility on her siblings to care for their ailing mother.
- The company laid the blame on the suppliers for the manufacturing delays.
Hypernyms
Meaning 4
Prepare or position for action or operation; "lay a fire"; "lay the foundation for a new health care plan".
Classification
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing.
Examples
- The carpenter began to lay the foundation for the new house.
- She carefully laid the cables in a way that would prevent them from tangling.
- They lay the explosives in a pattern designed to maximize the destruction.
- Before going to bed, the camper laid a fire that would be easy to light in the morning.
- The engineer helped lay the framework for the new project.
Hypernyms
Meaning 5
Lay eggs; "This hen doesn't lay".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The hen is expected to lay around 300 eggs per year in ideal conditions.
- The chicken will start to lay eggs after it reaches about six months of age.
- This hen doesn't lay as many eggs as the others in the same farm.
- She carefully observed the bird to see where it would lay its nest.
- Each month the female turtle could lay up to one hundred eggs.