to lay store by

8.6

To value something and trust it

phrasal verb

Archaic

: valorar

Many investors lay store by expert opinions when making decisions about their portfolios.

Examples

Some people lay store by old superstitions, while others dismiss them entirely.
She has always laid store by honesty and hard work in her team.
Don't lay store by gossip!
She lays store by her family's advice.
Many investors lay store by expert opinions when making decisions about their portfolios.
Some people lay store by old superstitions, while others dismiss them entirely.
She has always laid store by honesty and hard work in her team.

Synonyms

to trust

vsto lay store by

∞ 1.0

To believe someone will do what they say

emphasizes valuing or counting on rather than only believing

to bank

vsto lay store by

12 3.2

To rely on someone or something with confidence

focuses on trusting or relying rather than judging value or importance

to set store by

vsto lay store by

Archaic

1 7.9

To think something is important and worth attention

is the same meaning but uses a different common phrasing

to put much store by

vsto lay store by

8.1

To think something is very important and trust it a lot

is similar but expresses importance or trust without extra intensity

Antonyms

to dismiss

332 3.0

To refuse to accept an idea or claim

to disregard

119 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

to undervalue

8 4.8

Think something or someone is less important than they really are

How Important

to treasure

76 2.9

to esteem

14 4.6

to lay store by

Archaic

8.6

to consider

∞ 1.1

to discount

75 4.2

Surface Forms

lay store by infinitive

laying store by present participle

lays store by third person singular

laid store by past

laid store by past participle

Morphology

lay + store + by

The literal meanings of 'lay' (put), 'store' (a supply or reserve) and 'by' (near/at) do not straightforwardly yield 'to regard as important' for a B1 learner, and the phrase order and usage are somewhat archaic. There is a weak metaphorical link (putting something in store implies keeping/valuing it), so the connection is partially inferable but not fully predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrase lay store by may come from old shopkeepers who would lay special goods in a store to keep them safe because they valued them. So, to lay store by something today means to think it is 'important' or to 'trust' it.