Synonyms for lay
verb
To knock down
trounce, defeat, club; see beat 2, hit 1.
To place
put, deposit, set; see place 1.
To put in order
arrange, organize, systematize; see order 3.
To bring forth
generate, deposit, yield; see produce 1.
To smooth out
steam, lay flat, iron out; see iron, press 2, smooth 1.
To bet
game, wager, lay odds; see bet, gamble 1.
To work out
devise, concoct, design; see plan 1, 2.
See lay in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II
verb
To place (a story, for example) in a designated setting:
set1. See placeTo deposit in a specified place:
place, put, set1, stick. See place, riseTo place (a corpse) in or as if in a grave:
bury, entomb, inhume, inter. Idiom: lay (or put) to rest. See showTo regard as belonging to or resulting from another:
accredit, ascribe, assign, attribute, charge, credit, impute, refer. See giveTo arrange tableware upon (a table) in preparation for a meal:
set1, spread. See orderTo form a strategy for:
blueprint, cast, chart, conceive, contrive, design, devise, formulate, frame, plan, project, scheme, strategize, work out. (Informal) dope out. Idiom: lay plans. See plannedTo bring forward for formal consideration:
adduce, cite, present2. (Archaic) allege. See law, wordsTo put up as a stake in a game or speculation.
Also used with down: bet, gamble, post2, put, risk, stake, venture, wager. (Informal) go. See gamblingTo make a bet:
bet, gamble, game, play, wager. Idiom: put one's money on something. See gambling- (Military)
To move (a weapon or blow, for example) in the direction of someone or something:
aim, cast, direct, head, level, point, set1, train, turn, zero in. See seek
phrasal verb lay asideTo reserve for the future:
keep, lay away, lay by, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by. See keep, save
phrasal verb lay awayTo reserve for the future:
keep, lay aside, lay by, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by. See keep, saveTo place (money) in a bank:
bank2, deposit, salt away. (Informal) sock away. See keep, money
phrasal verb lay byTo reserve for the future:
keep, lay aside, lay away, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by. See keep, save
phrasal verb lay downTo let (something) go:
abandon, cede, forgo, relinquish, surrender, yield. See keepTo set forth expressly and authoritatively:
decree, dictate, fix, impose, ordain, prescribe. Idioms: call the shots (or tune), lay it on the line. See over
phrasal verb lay for- (Informal)
To wait concealed in order to attack (someone):
Idioms: lay wait for, lie in wait for. See attack, show
phrasal verb lay inTo reserve for the future:
keep, lay aside, lay away, lay by, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by. See keep, saveTo accumulate and set aside for future use:
lay up, save (up), stockpile, store (up). See keep
phrasal verb lay into- (Slang)
To punish with blows or lashes:
beat, flog, hide2, lash, thrash, whip. (Informal) trim. (Slang) lick. See attack, reward
phrasal verb lay off- (Slang)
To cease trying to accomplish or continue:
abandon, break off, desist, discontinue, give up, leave off, quit, relinquish, remit, stop. (Informal) swear off. Idioms: call it a day, call it quits, hang up one's fiddle, have done with, throw in the towel. See continue
phrasal verb lay outTo plan the details or arrangements of:
arrange, prepare, schedule, work out. See plannedTo work out and arrange the parts or details of:
blueprint, design, map (out), plan, set out. See plannedTo show graphically the direction or location of, as by using coordinates:
chart, map (out), plot. See showTo distribute (money) as payment:
disburse, expend, give, outlay, pay (out), spend. (Informal) fork out (or over) (or up), shell out. See save
phrasal verb lay upTo reserve for the future:
keep, lay aside, lay away, lay by, lay in, put by, salt away, save (up), set by. See keep, saveTo accumulate and set aside for future use:
lay in, save (up), stockpile, store (up). See keep
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