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Definitions

lay

[ley] / leɪ /
ADJECTIVE
amateur, not trained in a religious or other profession
Synonyms
Antonyms






VERB
design, plan
Synonyms


VERB
bet, wager
Synonyms
NOUN
a song or poem
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The high commissioners for New Zealand and Australia, Hamish Cooper and Jay Weatherill, walked in tandem to lay their own wreaths.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Guardiola's early attempts to deal with this lay in drawing opponents on to City before launching the ball early, looking to find Haaland and Marmoush two against two in the opposing half.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

After enduring a near bank run in recent weeks, private credit is about to lay more cards on the table.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Already last May, ILO chief Gilbert Houngbo said the closure of some 50 US-funded projects had forced the agency to lay off around 200 staff members out of a total of around 3,500 globally.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

He thought of Fa: not Fa as he lay dying in the wreck of their shelter, but Fa as he’d been just before the bear attacked: laughing at the joke Torak had made.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver




Vocabulary lists containing lay