Lay Definition & Meaning

lay
adjective
  1. characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy; "set his collar in laic rather than clerical position"; "the lay ministry"
  2. not of or from a profession; "a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease"
noun
  1. a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
  2. a narrative poem of popular origin
verb
  1. put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point"
  2. put in a horizontal position; "lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed"
  3. prepare or position for action or operation; "lay a fire"; "lay the foundation for a new health care plan"
  4. lay eggs; "This hen doesn't lay"
  5. impose as a duty, burden, or punishment; "lay a responsibility on someone"

Synonyms for lay

ballad noun

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain a narrative poem of popular origin

♫ Rhymes
laic adj

characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy; "set his collar in laic rather than clerical position

♫ Rhymes
place noun

a point located with respect to surface features of some region; "this is a nice place for a picnic

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
pose noun

affected manners intended to impress others

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
position noun

the particular portion of space occupied by something

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
profane adj

characterized by profanity or cursing; "foul-mouthed and blasphemous"; "blue language

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
put noun

the option to sell a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date put into a

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
repose noun

freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility)

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
secular adj

of or relating to the doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations characteristic of or devoted to the

♫ Rhymes
set adj

(usually followed by `to' or `for') on the point of or strongly disposed; "in no fit state to continue"; "fit to drop

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Lay" in song lyrics

See how lay is used in real songs:

  • "In fact, I'm there to cracks where the feet lay"
    Esoteric f/ Main Flow — Street Pay
  • "Got to lay law, when I say it's time to lay"
    Above the Law — L.A. Vibe
  • "Act like I dont know where you lay"
    Ace Hood — Get 'Em

Words that rhyme with lay

See all rhymes for lay →

Usage tips for "lay"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "lay" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for lay to find words that pair well.

Use "lay" in a verse

Now that you know what "lay" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

Explore more

♫ Rhymes with lay ↔ Synonyms for lay 🔬 Words containing lay

Frequently asked questions

What does lay mean?
characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy; "set his collar in laic rather than clerical position"; "the lay ministry" not of or from a profession; "a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease" a narrative song with a recurrent refrain a narrative poem of popular origin put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point" put in a horizontal position
What part of speech is lay?
Lay is an adjective, a noun, and a verb.
How many definitions does lay have?
Lay has 9 definitions across 3 parts of speech (adjective, noun, verb).

Explore More Word Tools

Look up another word