Skip to main content
to lay aside

to lay aside

1 3.5
Save money for future use
  • phrasal verb
  • /leɪ əˈsaɪd/
translation icon : ahorrar
  • First, lay aside any perfectionism.

Examples

  • Every month, I try to lay aside some money to save for my vacation.

  • I had to lay aside all glorious ambitions to save the world, either by myself or in concert with a special cadre of beings.

    Academic text (1990)
  • "On the first day of the week, let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper." - I Cor 16:1,2

    Blog text (26)
  • She decided to lay aside a portion of her salary for her retirement fund.

  • To prepare for emergencies, it's wise to lay aside some resources each month.

Synonyms

to keep
vsto lay aside
1.0

To store something for later use

is specifically about accumulating resources for future needs
to save
vsto lay aside
1.0

Keep something for use later

is about saving for future use rather than immediate spending
to store
vsto lay aside
463 1.0

To put something away to use later

is about building resources over time rather than mere safekeeping
to save money
vsto lay aside
257 1.3

To put money aside instead of spending it now

is broader, covering saving resources not only cutting expenses
to put away
vsto lay aside
225 2.0

To place something in its usual place for storage

is about setting resources aside for future use rather than tidying
to reserve
vsto lay aside
145 3.1

To keep something for a particular person or purpose

is about building up resources for future use broadly
to stash
vsto lay aside
  • Informal
144 5.1

To hide money or things in a secret place for later

is similar but normally done openly rather than secretly
to save up
vsto lay aside
87 2.6

To put money aside little by little for something you want

is similar but applies to general future resource accumulation
to set aside
vsto lay aside
87 3.4

Save money or time for a special purpose

is more general, applying to saving without a specific allocation
to put in
vsto lay aside
26 2.1

Keep or save something for future use

is focused on accumulation specifically for future use
to put aside
vsto lay aside
24 2.4

To move something out of the way so you do not use it for now

is about long term accumulation rather than temporary removal
to save for later
vsto lay aside
23 3.0

Keep something to use at a later time

is focused on actively accumulating resources rather than postponing use
to hold back
vsto lay aside
17 3.2

Keep something for later use

focuses on ongoing accumulation rather than holding back use
to squirrel away
vsto lay aside
  • Informal
4 5.3

To save money or things over time, often secretly

is the general idea of future accumulation without secrecy
to store away
vsto lay aside
3 2.6

To put something in a safe place to use later

covers saving resources but emphasises accumulation over storage action
to save for a rainy day
vsto lay aside
  • Informal
3 2.9

Put money aside to use if something unexpected happens

is general saving for future use, not only emergencies
to lay in
vsto lay aside
2 4.0

To get and keep extra supplies for use later

focuses more on acquiring and saving resources rather than one supply
to keep back
vsto lay aside
2 2.8

Save part of something to use later

is more about building up resources rather than withholding them
to lay away
vsto lay aside
1 4.7

To save money or keep goods for later

focuses on saving resources generally rather than a specific purchase
to salt away
vsto lay aside
  • Informal
1 6.7

To save money little by little to use later

matches gradual accumulation but is less secretive in usual use

Antonyms

1.0

To give money to buy something or pay for services

How Much

to hoard
45 4.8
to stash away
  • Informal
13 4.9
to lay aside
1 3.5
to save
644 1.0
to put aside
24 2.4

Surface Forms

lay aside infinitive
laying aside present participle
lays aside third person singular
laid aside past
laid aside past participle

Morphology

lay + aside

The meaning 'to save or accumulate for future use' is directly derivable from combining 'lay' (to put or place) with 'aside' (to one side / for later). This verb + particle composition follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern (put/place + aside) and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

The phrasal verb lay aside comes from the simple image of putting something to one side: you lay a coin aside, into a jar instead of spending it, so it now means 'to save' or 'keep for the future'.