as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
be sure to lay in enough food for the long Alaska winter
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Recent Examples of lay in
Down below, Tahitian Terrace lay in ruins.
—
Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2025
Some bristled at the suggestion that Hardwick’s salvation lay in microgreens.
—Chelsea Edgar, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2025
First responders showed up immediately as the wreckage lay in the river with numerous fire boats headed to the scene.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 31 Jan. 2025
The church's front doors lay in pieces, succumbing to the flames and the pressure of the water.
—Noe Padilla, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2025
Some bristled at the suggestion that Hardwick’s salvation lay in microgreens.
—Chelsea Edgar, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2025
First responders showed up immediately as the wreckage lay in the river with numerous fire boats headed to the scene.
—Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 31 Jan. 2025
The church's front doors lay in pieces, succumbing to the flames and the pressure of the water.
—Noe Padilla, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lay in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay in
Verb
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To make your clothes last longer, wash them less frequently, use cold water, wash inside out, air dry and store them properly.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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Reporters may be asked to unlock phones, laptops, or social media accounts, which could lead to sensitive material being copied or stored.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Fromm’s maturation also was thwarted by COVID restrictions that led the Bills to stash him off-campus in case Allen or Barkley got sick.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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Separate your bills; stash some in your bag, and keep some on your person, either in your shoe, your bra, your pants pockets, or somewhere else secure.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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He was laid up in bed for five weeks in the summer of 1919 but returned to the job that fall.—
Richard Selcer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Morikawa was laid up 90 yards out, while Henley's approach sailed right of the green.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20in. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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