verb

lay

verb

To put something down, especially in a flat or resting position.

"She laid the baby gently in the crib."

"He laid his keys on the table by the door."

To produce and deposit an egg.

"The hen laid three eggs this morning."

To set out or establish a plan, rule, or foundation.

"The committee laid out a new strategy for the year ahead."

adj

Not belonging to the clergy; not a professional or expert in a given field.

"He explained the diagnosis in lay terms so she could understand it."

How to Use Lay

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo put something down, or (for a hen) to produce an egg; as an adjective, non-expert or non-clergy.

Common mistake

"Lay" needs an object (you lay something down), while "lie" does not (you lie down). Many people confuse these, especially since the past tense of "lie" is also "lay."

Easily confused with

lie →

Common pairings

lay the table lay an egg lay out a plan lay person

Word Forms

more lay comparative, laid past tense, laid past tense, lay plural, laid plural, lays plural, lays plural, lays plural, lays plural, lays plural, lays singular, lay singular, layest singular, laid singular, laidst singular, laidest singular, layeth singular, lays singular, most lay superlative

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He explained the diagnosis in _____ terms so she could understand it.

Etymology

From Old English leċġan, "to lay" — the causative form of "lie" (to make something lie down), from Proto-Germanic *lagjaną.

Synonyms

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laic laical laicist laicistic

Antonyms

clerical secular

Related Words

holy secular religious clerical cleric

Rhymes for lay

ay may day say ray hay pay jay way yay nay bay

See all rhymes for lay →

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