Lay has been used intransitively in the sense of "lie" since the 14th century. The practice was unremarked until around 1770; attempts to correct it have been a fixture of schoolbooks ever …

LAY meaning: 1. to put something in especially a flat or horizontal position, usually carefully or for a…. Learn more.

Lay definition: to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down.. See examples of LAY used in a sentence.

1. To give up; abandon: lay aside all hope of rescue. 2. To save for the future: laid aside money for a vacation.

Lay is used with some nouns in expressions about accusing or blaming someone. For example, if you lay the blame for a mistake on someone, you say it is their fault, or if the police lay …

Oct 20, 2025 · One is that the form lay was also originally used as both the base form of lay and as the simple past of lie. Another is the use of lay as a reflexive verb meaning “to go lie (down)”.

The past tense of lie is lay, but not because there is any overlap between the two verbs. So when you say, “I lay down for a nap,” you’re actually using the verb lie, not lay, despite the way it …

Oct 3, 2025 · Learn the difference between "lay vs lie" and how to use each correctly. Avoid common mistakes with simple explanations and examples.

Oct 13, 2025 · A popular potato chip company is undergoing a major makeover, due to a concerningly large swath of clueless customers, apparently. On Oct. 9, Lay’s announced its …

To lay is to set something down or put it in a horizontal position. It can also mean to position or prepare something for action — or simply to lay eggs.