noun

lying

LEYE-ihng

noun

The act of telling lies; dishonesty in speech.

"His constant lying eventually cost him his friends' trust."

adj

Habitually untruthful; dishonest.

"She called him a lying cheat in front of everyone."

verb

Present participle of "lie" — either telling untruths, or resting in a horizontal position.

"He was lying on the sofa when the phone rang."

"She admitted lying about her age on the application."

How to Use Lying

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "resting flat" or "telling untruths", depending on which verb "lie" it comes from.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "laying", which needs an object (you lay something down, but you yourself lie down).

Easily confused with

laying →

Word Forms

more lying comparative, lyinger comparative, lyings plural, lyings plural, most lying superlative, lyingest superlative

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His constant _____ eventually cost him his friends' trust.

Etymology

From "lie" plus the suffix "-ing" — note that English has two unrelated verbs "to lie" (rest horizontally) and "to lie" (tell an untruth), both of which form "lying".

Rhymes for lying

Ying dying tying vying saying flying trying paying crying laying buying baying

See all rhymes for lying →