Lay is often used where lie is considered standard, as in "I'm going to lay down for a quick nap." The use, which dates to the 14th century, troubled no one until the 18th, but since then, people who care …

Lie is a verb which means ‘to be in or put yourself into a flat position’. It is an irregular verb and it doesn’t take an object. The -ing form is lying and the past simple is lay. The -ed form, lain, is very formal and …

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.

Nov 17, 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)”.

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 charges against …

Definition of lay verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

The verb lay in most of its meanings takes an object, and a general rule to remember is that if the word "put, place,'' can be substituted in a sentence, then lay is the verb to use: Lay (= put, place) the …

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.

Jun 22, 2023 · Knowing the definitions of lay and lie helps, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you exactly how to use them in a sentence. Remember, lay needs a direct object, while lie never has a direct object.