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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of lays
Eva Flowe
july 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 July 2026
Screwworm infestations begin when a female fly lays eggs on a wound or body opening.
—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Erwin expertly lays these out in realistic fashion for the times with the great help of cinematographer Kristopher Kimlin.
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
1 July 2026
The new world screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in the fresh wounds of warm-blooded animals, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 June 2026
By repairing damage, Virtue’s Recovery Shampoo lays the groundwork for more growth.
—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
Earlier this week, Lionel Messi broke the record for the most goals ever scored at the FIFA World Cup and the Argentinian now lays claim to one of the most iconic and famous landmarks in all of sport.
—
Peter Carline,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Twins and Manipulator are in the rearview, but the Chrome that lays ahead couldn’t exist without them.
—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
25 June 2026
Sardinia lays claim to fainè, Gibraltar to calentita, and Tuscany to cecina or torta di ceci.
—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
25 June 2026
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
While the 40-foot steeple of Crown Point’s oldest church lays toppled along Grant Street and East North Street, treasures found inside the 139-year-old church have found their way into new light.
—
Anna Ortiz,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
The screwworm lays eggs in open wounds on mammals, and the larvae feed on living flesh.
—
Eva Flowe
july 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 July 2026
Screwworm infestations begin when a female fly lays eggs on a wound or body opening.
—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Erwin expertly lays these out in realistic fashion for the times with the great help of cinematographer Kristopher Kimlin.
—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
1 July 2026
The new world screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in the fresh wounds of warm-blooded animals, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 June 2026
By repairing damage, Virtue’s Recovery Shampoo lays the groundwork for more growth.
—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
Earlier this week, Lionel Messi broke the record for the most goals ever scored at the FIFA World Cup and the Argentinian now lays claim to one of the most iconic and famous landmarks in all of sport.
—
Peter Carline,
New York Times,
26 June 2026
Twins and Manipulator are in the rearview, but the Chrome that lays ahead couldn’t exist without them.
—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
25 June 2026
Sardinia lays claim to fainè, Gibraltar to calentita, and Tuscany to cecina or torta di ceci.
—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
25 June 2026
Noun
Before us, in a curtain of matte black against the vibrant green, a beautiful, enormous silverback lays flopped on his back surrounded by eight gorillas of all ages wrestling around him.
—
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
While the 40-foot steeple of Crown Point’s oldest church lays toppled along Grant Street and East North Street, treasures found inside the 139-year-old church have found their way into new light.
—
Anna Ortiz,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lays
Verb
-
However, some state workers currently using public transit have questions about capacity, especially as declining state and federal transit funding puts a strain on transit agencies.
-
That puts her in the club of four other millionaire authors on the bench – Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas.
Verb
-
Choose a soothing activity, maybe watercolor, music, cooking, or a quiet walk, and give it your full attention so your spirit settles.
-
Merchants pay interchange on card payments and hold working balances that earn them nothing, and a coin that settles instantly, costs less to accept and, under Open USD’s model, pays them the yield on their balances answers both at once.
Verb
-
Filing Deadlines Matter The state imposes strict statutory deadlines that govern how long a family has to formally file a lawsuit.
-
Please let this statement serve to represent that any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the United States of America.
Verb
-
As the country prepares to mark its semiquincentennial, or 250th birthday, the splashiest celebrations in Washington are being shaped by corporate money.
-
Guilherme Passos monitors and prepares Brazil’s national team for extreme heat as a sport scientist at the Brazilian Football Federation.
Verb
-
West Virginia’s ban also applies at every level of competition, but only from middle school through college.
-
The same process applies for minors if all living parents agree to the name change.
Verb
-
An immigrant educator at a struggling East LA high school decides his students can master AP calculus, bets everything on that belief, and turns out to be right.
-
The prediction market’s CEO, Tarek Mansour, told CNBC that bets on Bad Bunny’s first song alone exceeded $100 million in volume.
Verb
-
In line with the science of his time, which said that lunar craters were volcanic, Verne ascribes his flickering light to an eruption.
-
Meanwhile, Brewer ascribes Starbucks’ success in Italy, where even the average person is a coffee connoisseur, to offering people, especially young people, a place to relax and enjoy a coffee.
Verb
-
The algorithm buries it because the pattern is easy to detect.
-
Hollis buries herself in work in an attempt to escape her complicated grief, while aspiring filmmaker Caroline copes by making snarky remarks and bristling at her mom's efforts to connect.
Cite this Entry
“Lays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lays. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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