1
as in putting
to arrange something in a certain spot or position just lay the book over there on the table for now
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2
as in settling
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) the rain was just hard enough to lay the dust in the air
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3
as in imposing
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet
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4
as in preparing
to make ready in advance she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
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5
as in spreading
to put a layer of on a surface the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second
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6
as in betting
to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event I'll lay five dollars that you can't do it
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7
as in attributing
to explain (something) as being the result of something else an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring
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8
as in burying
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea lay the corpse to rest
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of laying The case centers around the federal Employee Retention Tax Credit, a program created by Congress in 2020 to reward employers for not laying people off during the pandemic. —
Angela Palermo april 11, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2026 Plus, the running water deters mosquitoes from laying eggs—unlike stillwater, which can become a breeding hotspot. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026 The company confirmed them outright and appears to be laying groundwork — carefully — for what could be its biggest menu expansion yet. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 Every mammal gives birth to live young, except for a handful of egg-laying monotremes like the platypus. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026 Across the country, such efforts and momentum are laying the groundwork for the kind of stable, predictable supply needed for seaweed to sustain and expand its presence in grocery stores, restaurants, and home kitchens. —Megan Zhang, Saveur, 8 Apr. 2026 Crews completed laying tracks in Prince George's County last year, and the lines remain under construction in parts of Montgomery County. —Mike Stunson, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026 At the King Center's Freedom Plaza on Auburn Avenue, members of the King family gathered Saturday afternoon for the annual wreath-laying ceremony — a moment of remembrance that continues to draw reflection, urgency, and renewed calls to action. —Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026 Bricks lay at the stand, to signify residents laying bricks to build the community up. —Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
Angela Palermo april 11, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2026 Plus, the running water deters mosquitoes from laying eggs—unlike stillwater, which can become a breeding hotspot. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026 The company confirmed them outright and appears to be laying groundwork — carefully — for what could be its biggest menu expansion yet. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 Every mammal gives birth to live young, except for a handful of egg-laying monotremes like the platypus. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026 Across the country, such efforts and momentum are laying the groundwork for the kind of stable, predictable supply needed for seaweed to sustain and expand its presence in grocery stores, restaurants, and home kitchens. —Megan Zhang, Saveur, 8 Apr. 2026 Crews completed laying tracks in Prince George's County last year, and the lines remain under construction in parts of Montgomery County. —Mike Stunson, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026 At the King Center's Freedom Plaza on Auburn Avenue, members of the King family gathered Saturday afternoon for the annual wreath-laying ceremony — a moment of remembrance that continues to draw reflection, urgency, and renewed calls to action. —Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026 Bricks lay at the stand, to signify residents laying bricks to build the community up. —Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying
Verb
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In between, Michael Carrick took United to Stamford Bridge and won, putting the club on the brink of Champions League qualification.— Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
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Longtime friends and streetwear giants Nigo and Jun Takahashi are putting their minds together once again — and now with Nike in the mix.— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2026
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While this doesn't erase the debt instantly, settling for less than the full balance can stop further collection efforts and, in some cases, prevent legal action.— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
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Shopping for designer shoes on sale doesn’t have to mean scouring the internet for vintage and secondhand styles, or settling for designs that are no longer in season.— Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
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After the Brussels meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that without Orban’s veto, action could be coming soon, such as imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers.— Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
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Overlooking the São Lourenço estate is the hilltop town of Monserraz, a fortified settlement with an imposing castle and warren of streets to explore, as well as stunning views over the Guadiana river to the Spanish border.— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026
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Subscribe today Hello, this is Hui Jie writing to you from Singapore, while Leonie is away preparing for CNBC’s CONVERGE LIVE event, featuring names like former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Capital Group CEO Mike Gitlin.— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
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Last week, Quié, who has the build of a refrigerator and the energy of a hummingbird, was at the Charles Pan-Fried Chicken on 145th Street, preparing for another collaboration.— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
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That agreement, a 10-day pause between Israel and Lebanon, is part of a broader attempt to stop the conflict from spreading further.— Sohel Uddin, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
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Violence remains unpredictable and is increasingly spreading beyond the capital.— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, Apple is betting that within a few years, hefty workloads will run on a chip inside the phone, which will play to its strengths as the company has been integrating AI-capable silicon into its devices since 2017.— Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
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Companies are betting that humanoid robots powered by the latest AI models can eventually prove capable of stepping directly into workplaces designed for humans while flexibly tackling a wider range of tasks.— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Anthropomorphism means attributing human characteristics to non-human objects.— Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
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The Only Murders in the Building star previously addressed speculation about changes in her appearance and mannerisms, attributing the differences to her ongoing battle with lupus and her bipolar disorder diagnosis.— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As of now, Brooklyn doesn’t seem keen on burying the hatchet with his parents.— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
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With dwindling places to put snow, burying them was their best choice.— Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Laying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/laying. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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