📚 To put down 🥚 To produce eggs 💰 To impose 🧑 Not professional 🎶 A poem or song

to lay

∞ 1.0

To put something down carefully so it is flat on a surface

verb
/leɪ/

: poner

The text ends with a concluding chapter that lays out the conviction and hopes of the participants.
lay the foundation
lay the groundwork
lay the basis

When will you lay me down in bed?

Autoplay Next

Examples

Please lay the blanket flat on the grass for our picnic.
I said, could you bring her and lay her down here or no?

B. Simone
Come on, Step right up or lay it right down.
The body lay on its back.

Sleuth (1972)
After a bit, Jeff got out and lay in the sun to dry off.

Fiction book (1990)
In the following pages, we lay out the four scenarios as described by participants.

Academic text (2011)
There are authorities that lay down what is true and what is right.

Academic text (2011)
But what we'd like to do to start is sort of lay down the basics.
Before any groups were run, both sites undertook significant effort to lay the groundwork for CBITS.

Academic text (2011)
He decided to lay the books neatly on the table.

Synonyms

to put

vsto lay

∞ 1.0

Move something to a particular place or position

focuses specifically on laying items flat and with care

to place

vsto lay

∞ 1.0

To put something in a particular position or job

is limited to placing items flat or carefully on surfaces

to set

vsto lay

∞ 1.0

To take place in a particular time or place

is narrower, aiming for flat and careful placement on a surface

to put down

vsto lay

∞ 1.0

To lower something from your hands onto a surface

focuses on making an item lie flat and careful on a surface

to position

vsto lay

189 2.5

To put something in a particular place carefully

focuses on making an item lie flat and careful on a surface

to rest

vsto lay

116 1.0

To put something on or against something so it stays steady

focuses on flat placement rather than just providing support

to set down

vsto lay

95 1.7

To put something or someone down gently on a surface

focuses on making an item lie flat and careful on a surface

to deposit

vsto lay

59 2.5

To put something down carefully in a particular place

focuses on making an item lie flat and careful on a surface

to place down

vsto lay

6 1.7

Put something on a table or chair so it rests

focuses on making an item lie flat and careful on a surface

Antonyms

to stand

∞ 1.0

To be or put something in an upright position

raise

6 2.9

An act of lifting something to a higher position

Idioms

lay of the land

Informal

17 4.5

The current situation and main facts about a place or group

to lay down the law

Informal

13 5.5

Tell people firmly what they must do

to lay it on the line

Informal

8 7.8

To speak honestly and directly, even if it may cause trouble

to lay at the feet of

5 8.1

To say someone caused or deserves credit for something

to lay on the charm

Informal

1 5.8

Act very friendly and say nice things to get what you want

to lay one's head

1 4.2

To find a place to sleep or rest

to lay one's tongue to

Archaic

9.8

To say a word correctly, often with difficulty

to lay on the sauce

Informal

8.4

To put a lot of sauce on food or to use too much of something

to lay the blame at the feet of (someone)

6.9

To say someone caused a problem or is at fault

to lay the dust of controversy

Archaic

8.3

End arguments about a decision by giving a clear answer

Phrasal Verbs

to lay out

283 3.2

To explain something clearly and in detail

to lay off

176 3.3

Stop employing someone because the company cannot afford them, not because of bad work

to lay out

126 3.1

To arrange items so they are ready and easy to see

to lay off

Informal

118 3.4

Stop doing something that annoys someone

to lay hands on

69 4.6

To touch or hold something with your hands

to lay down

Formal

66 3.9

Officially set a rule or law that people must follow

to lay eyes on

Informal

59 3.7

To see someone or something for the first time after a long time

to lay to rest

30 4.0

To bury someone after a funeral

to lay claim

21 4.4

Say you have a right to something like land or money

to lay the foundation

19 3.9

To make things ready so something can succeed

to lay bare

13 5.5

To show something hidden so people can see it

to lay on the line

Informal

12 8.0

To risk losing something important, like your job or your reputation

to lay an egg

12 2.0

To make and leave an egg outside the body

to lay on

12 4.2

Provide or arrange things like food and transport for an event

to lay waste to

11 7.9

To destroy a place and leave it ruined

to lay to rest

10 5.2

To stop a worry, rumor, or feeling by dealing with it

to lay out

Informal

8 4.5

To pay a large amount of money for something

to lay siege

7 8.2

Surround a place with soldiers and cut off its supplies to make it give up

to lay hands on

7 6.5

To get something, often after hard work

to lay into

Informal

6 7.2

Use angry words to criticize someone strongly

to lay in

3 4.0

To get and keep extra supplies for use later

to lay over

3 3.5

To put one thing on top of another so it partly covers it

to lay into

NSFW

3 7.5

Hit someone or something hard and violently

to lay away

2 4.7

To save money or keep goods for later

to lay up

1 6.1

Keep someone in bed because they are ill or injured

to lay aside

1 3.5

Save money for future use

to lay down the marker

1 7.4

To set a clear standard for others to try to reach

to lay over

1 4.2

To stop during a journey and stay somewhere, often overnight, before you continue

to lay supine

Specialized

1 6.2

To lie on your back with your face up

to lay store by

Archaic

1 8.6

To value something and trust it

Compounds

lay-up

Jargon

5 3.4

A close shot near the basket in basketball made with one hand, often off the backboard

lay witness

Jargon

1 6.9

A person who gives evidence in court about what they personally saw or experienced

lay-by

1 5.9

A paved area beside a main road where vehicles stop briefly to rest or in an emergency

lay reader

Jargon

1 8.6

A person chosen by a church leader to lead readings, prayers, and short talks

lay figure

Archaic

1 9.8

A model of the human body with movable joints that artists use to set and study poses

How Carefully

to arrange

112 1.7

to position

189 2.5

to lay

∞ 1.0

to put

∞ 1.0

to drop

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

lay infinitive

laying present participle

lays third person singular

laid past

laid past participle

Etymology

Lay (verb 'to put') comes from an old English verb meaning 'to put', and you can see the same idea in words like layer and layout, so to lay something is to put it down carefully.