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
Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
The film lays bare the tensions and paradoxes of nuclear deterrence, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, which advocates for nuclear arms control.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
The top lays flat, giving the bob a buss down appearance.
—Donnetta Monk, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
And the flick, based on Hoover’s bestselling novel, lays it on thick alongside a lacking narrative and cringey dialogue.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Together, their work lays the foundation for a future where clean mobility is powered by the very poles that light our streets.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
His work lays the foundation for improved weather forecasting, the MacArthur Foundation said.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025
New satellite imagery lays bare the sheer scale of the destruction in the Gaza Strip with two years of Israeli bombardment having turned much of the landscape into a wasteland.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
Pantry moths are simply the name of a type of moth that lays its eggs on common household food products such as grains, beans, flour, nuts, and even pet food.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
The film lays bare the tensions and paradoxes of nuclear deterrence, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, which advocates for nuclear arms control.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
The top lays flat, giving the bob a buss down appearance.
—Donnetta Monk, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
And the flick, based on Hoover’s bestselling novel, lays it on thick alongside a lacking narrative and cringey dialogue.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Together, their work lays the foundation for a future where clean mobility is powered by the very poles that light our streets.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
His work lays the foundation for improved weather forecasting, the MacArthur Foundation said.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025
New satellite imagery lays bare the sheer scale of the destruction in the Gaza Strip with two years of Israeli bombardment having turned much of the landscape into a wasteland.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lays
Verb
-
The new browser looks a lot like traditional ones such as Google Chrome, but puts ChatGPT at the center of the browsing experience and weaves AI into the user experience.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Instead, the country has pioneered a Blue Economy—an ocean-first approach that puts conservation before consumption, sustainability before spectacle.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Boise and Treasure Valley residents have a chance to enjoy a beautiful fall Friday before a cold front bringing rainy weather and gusty winds settles into Southwest Idaho starting Saturday morning.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
24 Oct. 2025
-
But slowly, the truth settles in.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Perplexity imposes limitations on file uploads for free users, but its documentation doesn't specify exactly what those are.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Cosmologists and mathematical physicists often seek ways to circumvent the theorem, looking to quantum gravity (or other non-standard scenarios) to break us out of the requirements that general relativity imposes.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The request also comes as the Sundance Institute prepares for the next Sundance Film Festival, which will be the final year in its longtime Park City home before a move to Boulder, Colorado, for the 2027 festival.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
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The first solar panels were installed last week to supply, with help from battery storage, uninterrupted clean energy to the grid, as the UAE capital prepares for a surge in demand from AI data centers.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump cannot pardon himself in the hush money case because presidential clemency power only applies to federal cases.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The law applies to approximately 4,000 restaurants in New York City that are part of chains with 15 or more locations nationwide.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If a new account opens and immediately bets on a single player micro-market, that’s suspicious.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Similarly, if an existing account that typically bets $50 on certain games suddenly places a $1,000 bet, that outlier behavior could trigger an investigation.—
Dian Zhang,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This breakup analysis ascribes no value to the companies being under the same corporate parent.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This buries the block into the sand.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
-
According to the notice, the site uses a misleading logo, charges inflated prices and buries a disclaimer far down the page that does not meet state requirements.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lays. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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