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to lay in

to lay in

2 4.0
To get and keep extra supplies for use later
  • phrasal verb
  • /leɪ ɪn/
translation icon : almacenar
  • We need to lay in sufficient firewood for the winter.

Examples

  • Pottery and valuables had been left on the floors, and bushels of burned corn still lay in the storerooms.

    Academic text (2003)
  • - Lay in some vodka and vermouth for me.

  • We'll lay in canned goods.

  • When we have done that, we set our wheat and barley, put up houses and lay in firewood.

  • Let me know when you're coming again, Mom, and I'll lay in some assorted cakes.

  • You'll also find we've laid in all the equipment you'll need for the job…

  • Before the storm hit, they laid in extra supplies of food and water.

  • It is wise to lay in a few essential items before going on a long trip.

Synonyms

to keep
vsto lay in
1.0

To store something for later use

is about obtaining and keeping a supply for future use
to store
vsto lay in
463 1.0

To put something away to use later

is about obtaining and keeping a supply for future use
to put in
vsto lay in
26 2.1

Keep or save something for future use

is about obtaining and keeping a supply for future use
to stash away
vsto lay in
  • Informal
13 4.9

Put something in a hidden place to use later

is about obtaining and keeping a supply for future use
to lay aside
vsto lay in
1 3.5

Save money for future use

is about obtaining and keeping a supply for future use
to lay away
vsto lay in
1 4.7

To save money or keep goods for later

is about obtaining and keeping a supply for future use
to stack away
vsto lay in
1 3.9

To put things in a safe place for later use

is about obtaining and keeping a supply for future use
to salt away
vsto lay in
  • Informal
1 6.7

To save money little by little to use later

is about obtaining and keeping a supply for future use
to hive away
vsto lay in
  • Informal
7.8

Put money or things aside in a safe place to use later

is about obtaining and keeping a supply for future use

Antonyms

469 1.2

Careless use of money, time, or other resources

13 6.3

To use up almost all of something so little is left

How Much

to hoard
45 4.8
to stockpile
26 4.6
to lay in
2 4.0
stock
185 2.2
to buy
1.0
to get
1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

lay + in

There is a clear link between 'lay' (to put/place) and 'in' (into/inside), so the idea of placing items into storage is derivable from the parts. However, the extended sense that includes procuring or stocking up (i.e. obtaining and storing for future use) is a conventionalized phrasal-verb meaning that is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so learners may need exposure.

Etymology

Lay in comes from the simple image of putting things into storage: to lay (place) something in a cupboard or cellar. So it came to mean 'to get and keep supplies for later use'.