lay by

verb

Definition of lay bynext
1
as in to dump
to get rid of as useless or unwanted a politician who had laid by his principles years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to store
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay by
  1. dump
  2. store
  3. discard
  4. lay in
  5. ditch
  6. stash
  7. unload
  8. lay up
Verb
  • During that interview with Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling, teammates attempted to join the celebration, with Guerrero and Straw attempting to dump water over Lukes as part of the team’s tradition.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • These men never anticipated being dumped in a New Jersey ditch so far from home.
    — Jennifer Janofsky, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of dump
Verb
  • Older adults can also lose height and experience changes in where fat is stored.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Most teas can stay relatively potent for up to two years if they’re stored properly in an airtight container, away from sunlight and moisture, say Jamila and Alfonso Wright, co-founders of Brooklyn Tea.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of store
Verb
  • Peeling, trimming, and discarding green portions are the most effective measures to ensure a potato is safe to eat.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026
  • If that prediction is wrong, the processor discards the work, although traces can remain behind.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of discard
Verb
  • Tim Curry’s magic lay in his ability to be outrageous without being self-conscious, Tom Nichols writes.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But Fosdick’s real radicalism lay in his insistence that Scripture was not static or inerrant but needed to be read in the context of an evolving culture and country.
    — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of lay in
Verb
  • When the brothers arrived in court two days later, the jewel tones were ditched, and each wore a drab tan prison jumpsuit.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But several of the House members said the agency and others providing bus service need to make sure that there is enough parking, shade, water and other necessities so that customers are willing to ditch their cars.
    — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ditch
Verb
  • Accessed by some steps between the bathroom and bedroom, it's shown here furnished with a couple of single beds but could alternatively be used to stash belongings or as a kid's room or general hangout space.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This cake is best the day after it’s made, so prep it the night before and stash it in the fridge.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of stash
Verb
  • The new vessel, according to the CSL Group (CSL), the world’s largest owner and operator of self-unloading ships, will greatly boost Adbri’s limestone operations.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Welcomed by Herky the Hornet, the cheer team and the campus community, the students and their families checked in before unloading their belongings and setting up their new rooms.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of unload
Verb
  • Mayflies lay up to 10,000 eggs in the water, and their nymphs can't survive in water that is polluted.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026
  • Female wasps can lay up to 200 eggs a day as long as a host insect is available.
    — Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 19 June 2026
Definition of lay up
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

lay back
lay by
lay down
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lay by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20by. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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