Synonyms for lay
leɪlay

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. lay

   Put is the most general term for bringing an object to some point or within some space, however exactly or loosely; we may put a horse in a pasture, or put a bullet in a rifle or into an enemy. Place denotes more careful movement and more exact location; as, to place a crown on one's head, or a garrison in a city. To lay is to place in a horizontal position; to set is to place in an upright position; we lay a cloth, and set a dish upon a table. To deposit is to put in a place of security for future use; as, to deposit money in a bank; the original sense, to lay down or let down (quietly), is also common; as, the stream deposits sediment.

   Synonyms:
   deposit, place, put, set

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. lay

   Synonyms:
   place, establish, deposit, allay, prostrate, arrange, dispose, put, spread, set down

   Antonyms:
   erect, raise, lift, excite, disarrange, disorder, scrape, abrade

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ballad, laynoun

   a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

   Synonyms:
   ballad

   Antonyms:
   sacred, professional

2. ballad, layadjective

   a narrative poem of popular origin

   Synonyms:
   ballad

   Antonyms:
   professional, sacred

3. laic, lay, secularadjective

   characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy

   "set his collar in laic rather than clerical position"; "the lay ministry"

   Synonyms:
   profane, temporal, laic, secular, worldly

   Antonyms:
   professional, sacred

4. layverb

   not of or from a profession

   "a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease"

   Synonyms:
   laic, secular

   Antonyms:
   sacred, professional

5. put, set, place, pose, position, layverb

   put into a certain place or abstract location

   "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point"

   Synonyms:
   sit, site, redact, gear up, fructify, send, mystify, put down, coiffure, plant, cast, put, prepare, do, rank, frame, place, impersonate, fix, countersink, arrange, stick, set up, define, station, gravel, aim, repose, amaze, beat, posture, come out, dress, typeset, localise, dumbfound, localize, mark, go under, point, locate, specify, correct, bewilder, set, personate, position, come in, rate, sic, range, limit, jell, grade, present, coiffe, post, baffle, pose, vex, coif, commit, direct, perplex, stupefy, flummox, ready, rig, get, order, invest, identify, determine, target, puzzle, model, go down, congeal, assign, lay out, couch, adjust, nonplus

   Antonyms:
   professional, sacred

6. lay, put down, reposeverb

   put in a horizontal position

   "lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed"

   Synonyms:
   put, destroy, bring down, enter, get down, recline, disgrace, set, pose, put down, place, degrade, discharge, drop, unload, rest, repose, set down, record, land, take down, reside, position, demean, drop off, recumb, place down, write down

   Antonyms:
   sacred, professional

7. layverb

   prepare or position for action or operation

   "lay a fire"; "lay the foundation for a new health care plan"

   Synonyms:
   set, place, put down, put, position, pose, repose

   Antonyms:
   professional, sacred

8. layverb

   lay eggs

   "This hen doesn't lay"

   Synonyms:
   set, place, put down, put, position, pose, repose

   Antonyms:
   professional, sacred

9. layverb

   impose as a duty, burden, or punishment

   "lay a responsibility on someone"

   Synonyms:
   set, place, put down, put, position, pose, repose

   Antonyms:
   professional, sacred

Matched Categories

1. • Impose
   • Lay
   • Prepare
   • Put
   • Song

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. layverb

   Synonyms:
   put, place, lay down

2. layverb

   Synonyms:
   impose, assess

3. layverb

   Synonyms:
   impute, charge, ascribe

4. layverb

   Synonyms:
   spread (on a surface)

5. layverb

   Synonyms:
   prepare, set in order, get ready

6. layverb

   Synonyms:
   contrive, scheme, devise

7. layverb

   Synonyms:
   allay, quiet, calm, still, appease

8. layverb

   Synonyms:
   bet, stake, wager, risk, hazard

9. layverb

   Synonyms:
   produce, bring forth and deposit (as eggs)

10. layverb

    Synonyms:
    10. (Naut.) depress, sink, sail away from so as to lose sight of

11. layverb

    Synonyms:
    (Law.) allege, state, name

12. laynoun

    Synonyms:
    [rare.] row, stratum, layer

13. laynoun

    Synonyms:
    bet, wager, stake, pledge

14. laynoun

    Synonyms:
    [U. s.] share of profit

15. laynoun

    Synonyms:
    song

16. layadjective

    Synonyms:
    laic, laical

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. layadjective

   Synonyms:
   laic, laical

2. laynoun

   Synonyms:
   song, ballad, lyric

3. layverb

   Synonyms:
   deposit, place, impose, assess, impute, charge, ascribe, attribute, submit, present, offer, superimpose

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "lay":

   non-professional, non-scientific, secular, throw, nonprofessional, put, establish

Suggested Resources

1. LAY

   What does LAY stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the LAY acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

2. Lay

   Lay vs. Lie -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Lay and Lie.

How to pronounce lay?

How to say lay in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. [["1505","1"],["1507","1"],["1515","10"],["1520","8"],["1524","7"],["1563","46"],["1564","4"],["1568","27"],["1572","12"],["1574","2"],["1575","14"],["1579","22"],["1581","110"],["1582","20"],["1584","10"],["1587","18"],["1588","11"],["1589","4"],["1590","24"],["1592","27"],["1593","5"],["1594","4"],["1595","11"],["1597","2"],["1598","19"],["1602","1"],["1603","24"],["1605","4"],["1606","21"],["1607","92"],["1610","2"],["1611","4"],["1612","6"],["1614","4"],["1618","5"],["1619","6"],["1620","45"],["1621","35"],["1623","24"],["1624","28"],["1625","7"],["1626","6"],["1629","30"],["1630","41"],["1631","18"],["1632","17"],["1634","15"],["1635","20"],["1636","4"],["1637","172"],["1638","31"],["1640","10"],["1641","6"],["1642","29"],["1643","29"],["1644","263"],["1645","30"],["1646","9"],["1647","57"],["1648","70"],["1649","48"],["1650","38"],["1651","98"],["1652","32"],["1653","85"],["1654","9"],["1655","61"],["1656","120"],["1657","57"],["1658","132"],["1659","53"],["1660","26"],["1661","18"],["1662","32"],["1663","9"],["1664","77"],["1665","49"],["1666","7"],["1667","141"],["1668","213"],["1669","38"],["1670","168"],["1671","13"],["1672","236"],["1673","180"],["1674","37"],["1675","335"],["1676","322"],["1677","98"],["1678","407"],["1679","252"],["1680","185"],["1681","563"],["1682","440"],["1683","781"],["1684","446"],["1685","650"],["1686","240"],["1687","162"],["1688","503"],["1689","215"],["1690","154"],["1691","66"],["1692","340"],["1693","312"],["1694","402"],["1695","303"],["1696","184"],["1697","225"],["1698","846"],["1699","657"],["1700","728"],["1701","846"],["1702","1164"],["1703","1193"],["1704","1103"],["1705","916"],["1706","1347"],["1707","1135"],["1708","1319"],["1709","745"],["1710","1454"],["1711","1441"],["1712","817"],["1713","933"],["1714","1673"],["1715","1038"],["1716","872"],["1717","1440"],["1718","1079"],["1719","1311"],["1720","2037"],["1721","1591"],["1722","2650"],["1723","1667"],["1724","1934"],["1725","1574"],["1726","2136"],["1727","3078"],["1728","1874"],["1729","2446"],["1730","2308"],["1731","2164"],["1732","1578"],["1733","1074"],["1734","2473"],["1735","1672"],["1736","1374"],["1737","2339"],["1738","2504"],["1739","2050"],["1740","1952"],["1741","1513"],["1742","2052"],["1743","1803"],["1744","2945"],["1745","1695"],["1746","1288"],["1747","3225"],["1748","2580"],["1749","1846"],["1750","3867"],["1751","3779"],["1752","2237"],["1753","3758"],["1754","3437"],["1755","4209"],["1756","1399"],["1757","2106"],["1758","3399"],["1759","4483"],["1760","2680"],["1761","3456"],["1762","1903"],["1763","3857"],["1764","3427"],["1765","2933"],["1766","4468"],["1767","3832"],["1768","4994"],["1769","3387"],["1770","4780"],["1771","4159"],["1772","3957"],["1773","3565"],["1774","3086"],["1775","4577"],["1776","4027"],["1777","3392"],["1778","2993"],["1779","3402"],["1780","3731"],["1781","2707"],["1782","3013"],["1783","2852"],["1784","4238"],["1785","4691"],["1786","4457"],["1787","5829"],["1788","5548"],["1789","5972"],["1790","6175"],["1791","5842"],["1792","7025"],["1793","5449"],["1794","6122"],["1795","5873"],["1796","8596"],["1797","6716"],["1798","6554"],["1799","6582"],["1800","9477"],["1801","13941"],["1802","12662"],["1803","13714"],["1804","14216"],["1805","15086"],["1806","16331"],["1807","15794"],["1808","19489"],["1809","19152"],["1810","22089"],["1811","25541"],["1812","26276"],["1813","19825"],["1814","23148"],["1815","21634"],["1816","20378"],["1817","22223"],["1818","25794"],["1819","21579"],["1820","31774"],["1821","23737"],["1822","36877"],["1823","37385"],["1824","41032"],["1825","44463"],["1826","30600"],["1827","31252"],["1828","34618"],["1829","39337"],["1830","46369"],["1831","39372"],["1832","36990"],["1833","40417"],["1834","39659"],["1835","44058"],["1836","46902"],["1837","41121"],["1838","42250"],["1839","53265"],["1840","55031"],["1841","51902"],["1842","43430"],["1843","49830"],["1844","55754"],["1845","59722"],["1846","57262"],["1847","57359"],["1848","61088"],["1849","60318"],["1850","65628"],["1851","69468"],["1852","75032"],["1853","80360"],["1854","86894"],["1855","77274"],["1856","87790"],["1857","74136"],["1858","69107"],["1859","76968"],["1860","81869"],["1861","63266"],["1862","52483"],["1863","57072"],["1864","64101"],["1865","69159"],["1866","73431"],["1867","67979"],["1868","68951"],["1869","75889"],["1870","70543"],["1871","77611"],["1872","72449"],["1873","73282"],["1874","79972"],["1875","81717"],["1876","87583"],["1877","85439"],["1878","76898"],["1879","83197"],["1880","98675"],["1881","97591"],["1882","108316"],["1883","119176"],["1884","105329"],["1885","103657"],["1886","84119"],["1887","102834"],["1888","99753"],["1889","95331"],["1890","98615"],["1891","106492"],["1892","116803"],["1893","111269"],["1894","112477"],["1895","129844"],["1896","137210"],["1897","139161"],["1898","150040"],["1899","174082"],["1900","176925"],["1901","166615"],["1902","172728"],["1903","163549"],["1904","176432"],["1905","163748"],["1906","177045"],["1907","165592"],["1908","167814"],["1909","143820"],["1910","161706"],["1911","158578"],["1912","160289"],["1913","151803"],["1914","145442"],["1915","129490"],["1916","122684"],["1917","128511"],["1918","111513"],["1919","126658"],["1920","149671"],["1921","128082"],["1922","151937"],["1923","128970"],["1924","118490"],["1925","122078"],["1926","114803"],["1927","129165"],["1928","131086"],["1929","127297"],["1930","137830"],["1931","127390"],["1932","112494"],["1933","95978"],["1934","112499"],["1935","123757"],["1936","128704"],["1937","126969"],["1938","122774"],["1939","119871"],["1940","109091"],["1941","99418"],["1942","92277"],["1943","85106"],["1944","80676"],["1945","86347"],["1946","118984"],["1947","132190"],["1948","134685"],["1949","143138"],["1950","143428"],["1951","139819"],["1952","141688"],["1953","138797"],["1954","148754"],["1955","149604"],["1956","156581"],["1957","172367"],["1958","164804"],["1959","170401"],["1960","191390"],["1961","206933"],["1962","225928"],["1963","235409"],["1964","223724"],["1965","243424"],["1966","257270"],["1967","272518"],["1968","296983"],["1969","293182"],["1970","296131"],["1971","271724"],["1972","273970"],["1973","257455"],["1974","253794"],["1975","251969"],["1976","263369"],["1977","266535"],["1978","270946"],["1979","273789"],["1980","279544"],["1981","281818"],["1982","288253"],["1983","296539"],["1984","312334"],["1985","322335"],["1986","337569"],["1987","362015"],["1988","372276"],["1989","386609"],["1990","411324"],["1991","409003"],["1992","430030"],["1993","436068"],["1994","461691"],["1995","474003"],["1996","501193"],["1997","501318"],["1998","522543"],["1999","577128"],["2000","661002"],["2001","660853"],["2002","721844"],["2003","814420"],["2004","980473"],["2005","893813"],["2006","990659"],["2007","1185997"],["2008","1919553"]]

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use lay in a sentence?

1. Biden TransitionBiden:

   States and communities shouldn't have to lay off teachers, cops, firefighters, cut off vital services for families and businesses.

2. Karen Smith:

   As birds and mosquitoes sought water, they came into closer contact and amplified the virus, particularly in urban areas. The lack of water could have caused some sources of water to stagnate, making the water sources more attractive for mosquitoes to lay eggs.

3. Paula Kane:

   The bishops' first reaction was to say that things look bad, but they did all we could, but lay people aren't buying that. The trust between the church's hierarchy and the people in the pews has been destroyed.

4. Lucas Legendre:

   We suspect these large reptiles had the same reproductive strategy as viviparous lizards and snakes, which lay eggs with a very thin shell that hatch immediately after being laid.

5. Martin Luther:

   No man ought to lay a cross upon himself, or to adopt tribulation, as is done in popedom but if a cross or tribulation come upon him, then let him suffer it patiently, and know that it is good and profitable for him.