Laid — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb

Meaning & Definition of Laid

Laid (verb)

  1. to arrange something in a certain spot or position
  2. to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)
  3. to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

Laid (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to arrange something in a certain spot or position

    "just lay the book over there on the table for now"

    similar: deposed, deposited, disposed, emplaced, fixed, placed, positioned, put, set, set up, situated, stuck
    related: moved, rearranged, reordered, shifted, oriented, established, located, planted, settled, clapped, flopped, planked, plopped, plumped, plunked, plunked down, slapped, ensconced, niched, assembled, collected, carried, berthed, parked, affixed, anchored, locked, lodged, wedged, arrayed, laid out, lined up, queued, ranked, set down
    near: relocated, removed, took, banished, dislodged, displaced, replaced, superseded, supplanted

  2. to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)

    "the rain was just hard enough to lay the dust in the air"

    similar: sedimented, settled
    related: filtered, screened, sieved, sifted, strained, clarified, cleared, resettled
    opposite: raised
    near: agitated, disturbed, mixed, stirred

  3. to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

    "state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet"

    similar: assessed, charged, exacted, fined, imposed, levied, put
    related: docked, excised, mulcted, penalized, taxed, extorted, shook down, wrested, wrung, bled, fleeced, gouged, milked, skinned, squeezed, coerced, compelled, forced, inflicted, wreaked, set, reapplied, reimposed, relaid
    opposite: remitted
    near: abated, diminished, lessened, forgave, released, condoned, disregarded, excused, glossed (over), glozed (over), ignored, pardoned

  4. to make ready in advance

    "she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time"

    similar: fitted, fixed, groomed, prepared, prepped, readied
    related: braced, fortified, girded, steeled, battened, gathered, geared up, mounted, educated, indoctrinated, instructed, schooled, trained, tutored, booted (up), primed, arranged, set, spread, armed, equipped, forearmed, furnished, outfitted, provided, supplied, inclined, predisposed, drafted, drew up, framed, warmed (up)

  5. to put a layer of on a surface

    "the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second"

    similar: applied, laid on, spread
    related: anointed, bedaubed, besmeared, dabbed, daubed, plastered, slathered, smeared, blanketed, carpeted, coated, covered, layered, mantled, overlaid, overlay, overspread, sheeted, surfaced
    near: bared, exposed, peeled, stripped, uncovered

  6. to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event

    "I'll lay five dollars that you can't do it"

    similar: bet, gambled, played, put, staked, wagered, went
    related: bade, offered, adventured, chanced, hazarded, speculated, ventured, endangered, imperiled, jeopardized

  7. to explain (something) as being the result of something else

    "an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring"

    similar: accredited, ascribed, attributed, chalked up, credited, imputed, put down
    related: blamed, charged, fathered (on), imputed (to), pinned (on), assigned, referred, associated, attached, connected, linked

  8. to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea

    "lay the corpse to rest"

    similar: buried, entombed, hearsed, inhumed, interred, put away, tombed
    related: immured, inurned, enshrined, concealed, covered, ensconced, hid, obscured, shaded, shielded, cloaked, curtained, enshrouded, shrouded, reburied, reinterred, coffined
    opposite: disinterred, exhumed, unearthed
    near: burned, cremated, bared, disclosed, discovered, displayed, exhibited, exposed, revealed, showed, uncoffined

Related Entry: Lay (verb)

Lay is a different word from Laid. The synonyms below are for lay, not for laid.

  1. to arrange something in a certain spot or position

    "just lay the book over there on the table for now"

    similar: depose, deposit, dispose, emplace, fix, place, position, put, set, set up, situate, stick
    related: move, rearrange, reorder, shift, orient, establish, locate, plant, settle, clap, flop, plank, plop, plump, plunk, plunk down, slap, ensconce, niche, assemble, collect, carry, berth, park, affix, anchor, lock, lodge, wedge, array, lay out, line up, queue, rank, set down
    near: relocate, remove, take, banish, dislodge, displace, replace, supersede, supplant

  2. to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)

    "the rain was just hard enough to lay the dust in the air"

    similar: sediment, settle
    related: filter, screen, sieve, sift, strain, clarify, clear, resettle
    opposite: raise
    near: agitate, disturb, mix, stir

  3. to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

    "state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet"

    similar: assess, charge, exact, fine, impose, levy, put
    related: dock, excise, mulct, penalize, tax, extort, shake down, wrest, wring, bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze, coerce, compel, force, inflict, wreak, set, reapply, reimpose, relay
    opposite: remit
    near: abate, diminish, lessen, forgive, release, condone, disregard, excuse, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon

  4. to make ready in advance

    "she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time"

    similar: fit, fix, groom, prep, prepare, ready
    related: brace, fortify, gird, steel, batten, gather, gear up, mount, educate, indoctrinate, instruct, school, train, tutor, boot (up), prime, arrange, set, spread, arm, equip, forearm, furnish, outfit, provide, supply, incline, predispose, draft, draw up, frame, warm (up)

  5. to put a layer of on a surface

    "the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second"

    similar: apply, lay on, spread
    related: anoint, bedaub, besmear, dab, daub, plaster, slather, smear, blanket, carpet, coat, cover, layer, mantle, overlay, overlie, overspread, sheet, surface
    near: bare, expose, peel, strip, uncover

  6. to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event

    "I'll lay five dollars that you can't do it"

    similar: bet, gamble, go, play, put, stake, wager
    related: bid, offer, adventure, chance, hazard, speculate, venture, endanger, imperil, jeopardize

  7. to explain (something) as being the result of something else

    "an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring"

    similar: accredit, ascribe, attribute, chalk up, credit, impute, put down
    related: blame, charge, father (on), impute (to), pin (on), assign, refer, associate, attach, connect, link

  8. to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea

    "lay the corpse to rest"

    similar: bury, entomb, hearse, inhume, inter, put away, tomb
    related: immure, inurn, enshrine, conceal, cover, ensconce, hide, obscure, shade, shield, cloak, curtain, enshroud, shroud, rebury, reinter, coffin
    opposite: disinter, exhume, unearth
    near: burn, cremate, bare, disclose, discover, display, exhibit, expose, reveal, show, uncoffin

Related Entry: Laid-back (adjective)

Laid-back is a different word from Laid. The synonyms below are for laid-back, not for laid.

  1. having a relaxed, casual manner

    "a laid-back fisherman, he didn't really care if he caught anything, being content to relax and enjoy the sunshine"

    similar: affable, breezy, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, low-pressure, mellow
    related: carefree, casual, dégagé, lackadaisical, nonchalant, unaffected, unconcerned, unfussy, unperturbed, untroubled, unworried, familiar, homey, informal, flexible, lax, lenient, permissive, pliable, pliant, soft, accessible, approachable, imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable, amicable, companionable, comradely, cordial, genial, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, neighborly, warm, warmhearted
    opposite: high-strung, uptight
    near: ceremonious, decorous, formal, rigid, strict, anxious, bothered, distressed, worried, jittery, jumpy, nervous, skittish, tense

Related Entry: Laid-backness (noun)

Laid-backness is a different word from Laid. The synonyms below are for laid-backness, not for laid.

  1. as in easygoingness

    similar: easygoingness, assurance, confidence, poise, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-trust, apathy, detachment, impassivity, indifference, insensibility, numbness, phlegm, unconcern, aplomb, calmness, collectedness, composedness, composure, cool, coolness, countenance, equanimity, equilibrium, imperturbability, placidity, repose, sangfroid, self-composedness, self-possession, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness
    opposite: agitation, discomposure, perturbation, alarm, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, care, concern, disquiet, solicitude, uneasiness, worry, excitability, excitableness, nervousness, disturbance

Related Entry: Laid away (verb)

Laid away is a different word from Laid. The synonyms below are for laid away, not for laid.

  1. to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place

    "the weather forecast warned of a severe storm, so we laid away a generous supply of bottled water and canned food just in case"

    similar: cached, hoarded, laid by, laid in, laid up, put by, salted away, squirreled (away), stashed, stockpiled, stored, stowed, treasured, set aside
    related: accumulated, acquired, amassed, assembled, collected, concentrated, garnered, gathered, picked up, rounded up, scraped (together), heaped, piled, stacked, conserved, husbanded, preserved, banked, coffered, deposited, held, kept, reserved, retained, saved, set by, stocked, withheld, buried, concealed, ensconced, secreted
    near: cast, discarded, ditched, dumped, flung (off or away), jettisoned, threw away, threw out, unloaded, consumed, squandered, used up, wasted, handed out, handed over, relinquished, surrendered, blew, dissipated, frittered (away), lavished, misspent, ran through, spent, depleted, exhausted, expended, impoverished, dispelled, dispersed, scattered

Related Entry: Laid by (verb)

Laid by is a different word from Laid. The synonyms below are for laid by, not for laid.

  1. to get rid of as useless or unwanted

    "a politician who had laid by his principles years ago"

    similar: cashiered, cast (off), chucked, deep-sixed, discarded, ditched, dumped, eighty-sixed, exorcised, flung (off or away), jettisoned, junked, lost, pitched, rejected, scrapped, shed, shucked (off), sloughed (off), threw away, threw out, tossed, unloaded, disposed of, set aside
    related: abandoned, abdicated, deserted, forsook, dismissed, kicked out, abolished, annihilated, eliminated, eradicated, expunged, exterminated, extinguished, extirpated, liquidated, removed, rooted (out), stamped (out), wiped out
    near: adopted, embraced, took on, employed, used, utilized, held, held back, kept, retained

  2. to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place

    "ever since the last hurricane caught them unprepared, they have laid by emergency supplies"

    similar: cached, hoarded, laid away, laid in, laid up, put by, salted away, squirreled (away), stashed, stockpiled, stored, stowed, treasured, set aside
    related: accumulated, acquired, amassed, assembled, collected, concentrated, garnered, gathered, picked up, rounded up, scraped (together), heaped, piled, stacked, conserved, husbanded, preserved, banked, coffered, deposited, held, kept, reserved, retained, saved, set by, stocked, withheld, buried, concealed, ensconced, secreted
    near: cast, discarded, ditched, dumped, flung (off or away), jettisoned, threw away, threw out, unloaded, consumed, squandered, used up, wasted, handed out, handed over, relinquished, surrendered, blew, dissipated, frittered (away), lavished, misspent, ran through, spent, depleted, exhausted, expended, impoverished, dispelled, dispersed, scattered

Related Entry: Laid down (verb)

Laid down is a different word from Laid. The synonyms below are for laid down, not for laid.

  1. to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action

    "the city council promises to lay down new ordinances that will force dog walkers to clean up after their animals"

    similar: constituted, enacted, legislated, made, ordained, passed
    related: reenacted, repassed, brought about, effected, allowed, authorized, permitted, sanctioned, decreed, dictated, proclaimed, administered, executed, approved, confirmed, ratified
    opposite: repealed, rescinded, revoked
    near: abolished, abrogated, annulled, canceled, invalidated, killed, nullified, overturned, reversed, voided

  2. to state clearly and strongly

    "at the risk of their popularity, the parents laid down the rules for the party and wouldn't accept any arguments"

    similar: affirmed, asserted, averred, avouched, avowed, declared, guaranteed, professed
    related: advanced, advertised, boosted, plugged, promoted, publicized, announced, blazed, called, proclaimed, pronounced, said, accented, accentuated, emphasized, stressed, underlined, underscored, advocated, championed, defended, espoused, supported, upheld, assured, convinced, persuaded, explained, justified, rationalized, reaffirmed, reasserted
    near: minimized, understated, disregarded, ignored, neglected, overlooked

  3. to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly

    "the supervisor laid down the procedure for a complaint of sexual harassment"

    similar: defined, prescribed, specified
    related: decreed, dictated, ordained, assigned, directed, fixed, set, settled, arranged, ordered, chose, selected, adjured, bade, charged, commanded, enjoined, instructed, told, conducted, controlled, governed, led, managed, coerced, compelled, constrained, forced, obligated, obliged, required

  4. to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress

    "commanded the surrounded troops to lay down their weapons"

    similar: ceded, coughed up, delivered, gave up, handed over, relinquished, rendered, surrendered, turned in, turned over, yielded
    related: committed, consigned, entrusted, transferred, forfeited, released, waived, abnegated, renounced, resigned, abandoned, deserted, discarded, forsook, parted (with), shed
    near: kept, retained, withheld

Related Entry: Laid in (verb)

Laid in is a different word from Laid. The synonyms below are for laid in, not for laid.

  1. 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"

    similar: cached, hoarded, laid away, laid by, laid up, put by, salted away, squirreled (away), stashed, stockpiled, stored, stowed, treasured, set aside
    related: accumulated, acquired, amassed, assembled, collected, concentrated, garnered, gathered, picked up, rounded up, scraped (together), heaped, piled, stacked, conserved, husbanded, preserved, banked, coffered, deposited, held, kept, reserved, retained, saved, set by, stocked, withheld, buried, concealed, ensconced, secreted
    near: cast, discarded, ditched, dumped, flung (off or away), jettisoned, threw away, threw out, unloaded, consumed, squandered, used up, wasted, handed out, handed over, relinquished, surrendered, blew, dissipated, frittered (away), lavished, misspent, ran through, spent, depleted, exhausted, expended, impoverished, dispelled, dispersed, scattered

Related Entry: Laid off (verb)

Laid off is a different word from Laid. The synonyms below are for laid off, not for laid.

  1. to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

    "you need to lay off eating those jelly doughnuts, or you'll end up looking like one"

    similar: broke, broke off, broke up, canned (slang), ceased, cut off, cut out, desisted (from), discontinued, dropped, ended, gave over, halted, knocked off, left off, packed (up or in), quit, shut off, stopped, had done with, put the kibosh on
    related: completed, concluded, finished, closed (down), deactivated, blockaded, blocked, dammed, delayed, detained, held, held back, hindered, impeded, kiboshed, obstructed, stemmed, called, suspended, arrested, braked, checked, clamped down, reined (in), squashed, squelched, stamped, stanched, stunted, suppressed, turned back, paused, stayed, abolished, aborted, annulled, demolished, destroyed, dissolved, killed, ruined, scuttled, snuffed
    near: carried on, continued, followed through (with), kept up, ran on, advanced, proceeded, progressed, actuated, drove, impelled, propelled, stirred

Related Entry: Laid on (verb)

Laid on is a different word from Laid. The synonyms below are for laid on, not for laid.

  1. to put a layer of on a surface

    "she lays the butter on so thickly that you hardly taste the bagel"

    similar: applied, laid, spread
    related: anointed, bedaubed, besmeared, dabbed, daubed, plastered, slathered, smeared, blanketed, carpeted, coated, covered, layered, mantled, overlaid, overlay, overspread, sheeted, surfaced
    near: bared, exposed, peeled, stripped, uncovered

  2. to provide with a paying job

    "lay on more staff for the busy tourist season in the Lake District"

    similar: assumed, employed, engaged, feed (chiefly Scottish), hired, paid, placed, recruited, retained, signed (up or on), took on
    related: reemployed, reengaged, rehired, apprenticed, contracted, jobbed, partnered, subcontracted, enlisted, advanced, promoted, upgraded, kept (on), headhunted, scouted
    opposite: axed, canned, discharged, dismissed, fired, sacked
    near: furloughed, laid off, locked out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Laid

The most common words with a similar meaning to Laid:

deposed, deposited, disposed, emplaced, fixed, placed, positioned, put, set, set up, situated, stuck, sedimented, settled, assessed, charged, exacted, fined, imposed, levied, fitted, groomed, prepared, prepped, readied, applied, laid on, spread, bet, gambled, played, staked, wagered, went, accredited, ascribed, attributed, chalked up, credited, imputed

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Laid

Words with the opposite meaning of Laid:

raised, remitted, disinterred, exhumed, unearthed

Related Words for Laid

moved, rearranged, reordered, shifted, oriented, established, located, planted, clapped, flopped, planked, plopped, plumped, plunked, plunked down, slapped, ensconced, niched, assembled, collected, carried, berthed, parked, affixed, anchored, locked, lodged, wedged, arrayed, laid out

Near Antonyms of Laid

relocated, removed, took, banished, dislodged, displaced, replaced, superseded, supplanted, agitated, disturbed, mixed, stirred, abated, diminished, lessened, forgave, released, condoned, disregarded, excused, glossed (over), glozed (over), ignored, pardoned, bared, exposed, peeled, stripped, uncovered

Words & Phrases Containing Laid

laid-back, laid paper, cable-laid, fried, dyed, and laid to the side, hawser-laid, plain-laid, twice-laid, best-laid plans

Frequently Asked Questions about Laid

What does "Laid" mean?

"Laid" means to arrange something in a certain spot or position. As a verb, it is defined as: to arrange something in a certain spot or position. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Laid"?

Other words for "Laid" include deposed, deposited, disposed, emplaced, fixed, placed, positioned and put. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Laid" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Laid"?

There are 197 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Laid". Common alternatives include deposed, deposited, disposed, emplaced, fixed, placed, positioned, put, set and set up.

What is the opposite of "Laid"?

Antonyms of "Laid" include raised, remitted, disinterred, exhumed and unearthed. Near antonyms include relocated, removed, took and banished.

How do you use "Laid" in a sentence?

Examples of "Laid" in a sentence: "just lay the book over there on the table for now"; "the rain was just hard enough to lay the dust in the air"; "state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet".

Is "Laid" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Laid" is a verb.

What is another word for "Laid" meaning "to arrange something in a certain spot or position"?

When "Laid" (verb) means to arrange something in a certain spot or position, synonyms include deposed, deposited, disposed, emplaced, fixed and placed.

What is another word for "Laid" meaning "to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)"?

When "Laid" (verb) means to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid), synonyms include sedimented and settled. Opposites in this sense include raised.