1
as in puts
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
just lay the book over there on the table for now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in imposes
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in prepares
to make ready in advance
she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in applies
to put a layer of on a surface
the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
7
as in ascribes
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in buries
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
lay the corpse to rest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in ballads
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
she sang a short lay in dedication to her husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in works
the activity by which one regularly makes a living
my main lay is as a general contractor, but I do side work as a carpenter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lays
Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Smart charging in action The pilot supports ChargeScape’s mission to accelerate vehicle-grid integration and lays the foundation for future V2G programs across California and beyond.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Built by Starbucks, this platform lays the groundwork for scalable, responsible innovation.
—Randy Bean, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Paired with adaptive dampers, this hardware enables advanced driver-assistance features and lays the groundwork for future updates.
—New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025
Most of the smashing is done by Tamburlaine, a Scythian shepherd by birth, who rises to the peaks of power, lays waste to one kingdom after another, and has the temerity, at the climax of Part 1, not to die.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Giants head coach Brian Daboll has already said that Wilson will likely be starting against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, but if Wilson lays another egg, the Dart noise will get louder and louder.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Every nesting season, thousands of females dig holes on the seashore with their flippers, and each one lays dozens of eggs inside.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
Advocating for social and economic justice, this documentary lays the groundwork for the next generation of media activists.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
On the northeast and east side, firefighting crews continue to mop up and strengthen existing lines by removing snags and completing hose lays across steep, rocky terrain, and old-growth vegetation.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Smart charging in action The pilot supports ChargeScape’s mission to accelerate vehicle-grid integration and lays the foundation for future V2G programs across California and beyond.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Built by Starbucks, this platform lays the groundwork for scalable, responsible innovation.
—Randy Bean, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Paired with adaptive dampers, this hardware enables advanced driver-assistance features and lays the groundwork for future updates.
—New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025
Most of the smashing is done by Tamburlaine, a Scythian shepherd by birth, who rises to the peaks of power, lays waste to one kingdom after another, and has the temerity, at the climax of Part 1, not to die.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Giants head coach Brian Daboll has already said that Wilson will likely be starting against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, but if Wilson lays another egg, the Dart noise will get louder and louder.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Every nesting season, thousands of females dig holes on the seashore with their flippers, and each one lays dozens of eggs inside.
—Diaa Hadid, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
Advocating for social and economic justice, this documentary lays the groundwork for the next generation of media activists.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lays
Verb
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Spracklin's call puts him in the majority among analysts covering the stock.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
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What really puts City Limits at the front of the pack, though, are the Saturday spareribs, which are cooked directly over a bed of hardwood coals and seasoned with nothing but salt.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Bet up to that amount and get a bonus refund if your bet settles as a loss.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
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Grilled meats, mezze, and fresh catch arrive with live music that settles the evening.—
Ashlee Marie Preston,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yet the payoff on the other side is far less chilling due to a lack of emotional current, even as this film’s swan-song set piece imposes some nifty special effects and supernatural atmosphere.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Sep. 2025
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What Pennsylvania lawmakers can do Since price caps don’t apply to all types of inhalers and asthma medication, states can pass legislation that imposes such caps, instead of relying solely on industry compliance.—
Ana Santos Rutschman,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As Washington prepares to begin camp later this month, Coulibaly's recovery will be closely monitored.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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At Yeyo’s, chef and founder Rafael Rios prepares some of the best Mexican food in the region.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Goldilocks principle applies to ensuring that the soup is not too hot and not too cold.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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The announcement applies to all the military services and is the latest in a series of restrictions after years of military services loosening the rules on how troops can look, often at the request of service members themselves.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This breakup analysis ascribes no value to the companies being under the same corporate parent.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Decades of work is on the line as the administration strips funding, guts agencies, scrubs resources and buries datasets.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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Perhaps even worse is the horrifying relatability, as the bereaved father ignores the warnings and buries his dead child in an ancient burial ground.—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kepler further situates its progress within China’s broader push in robotics, stating that domestic innovators have emerged as significant contributors to industry growth and that K2 aims to translate technology upgrades into practical, multi-scenario operations.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
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DaCosta situates the story in 1954 but infuses it with her modern sensibility, shaping a lush, volatile portrait of womanhood, longing, and consequence.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lays. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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