The hill lay covered with snow.
Source: tatoeba (19853)
Lay
/leɪ/
Synonyms for "lay" (509 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (102)
Noun(13 words)
abateaccreditaddressadvanceaimairalbaalignallayallegealleviateanesthetizeanteante upanthemappeaseariaart songascribeaspect
Show 66 more words
assignassuageattemperattitudeattributeaubadeazimuthbackballballadballadeballatabank the firebarcarolebe intimatebearingbearingsbentbenumbbetbet onbluesblues songbluntboardboat songboombrautliedbridal hymnbrindisiburdenburden withcallcalmcalypsocansocanticlecantocantuscanzonecanzonetcanzonettacarolcastcast loosecast out devilscavatinacelestial navigationchansonchantchanteychargechastenchristmas carolcitecivilclapclap on ratlinesclear hawsecohabitcome togethercommit adulteryconciliatecongregationalconstraincontrol
Strong matches (153)
coolcopulatecouplecoursecovercrawlcreditcrooncroon songcurrentcushioncut loosedabdampdampende emphasizede-emphasizedead reckoningdeadendeaden the pain
Show 112 more words
defusedemanddepositdescantdiapasondiddlediminishdirectdirectiondirection linedirgedisbursedispatchdittydownplaydragdressdriftdrinking songdropdubdulcifydulleaseease mattersenjoinenunciateepithalamiumequalizeestablishevenexactexorciseexposureextenuatefadefasten uponfellfindfixflattenfleshlyflushfolk songfomentfornicatefreight withfrigfrontagegamblegamegive reliefgradegreasegrovelhandleharrowhaulhaul downhave sexhave sexual relationshazardheadingheaveheave apeakheave roundheave shorthelmsmanshiphymenealhymnimposeimpose onimpose uponimputeinclinationinclineinflictinflict oninflict uponkedgekeep within boundsknock downkunstliedlaiclaicallay a wagerlay aloftlay downlay flatlay ghostslay levellay lowlay onlay outlay the dustlenifylessenlevellevylielie downlie flatlie limplylie pronelie prostratelie withliebesliedliedlightenliltlineline of direction
Noun(14 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (254)
line of marchline of positionlodgeloglollloungelove songlove-liltlubricatelullmake a betmake it withmake lovemake outmatematerialmatinmeasuremeet a betmeliorate
Show 179 more words
melodiamelodic linemelodyminstrel songminstrelsymitigatemoderatemodulatemollifymountmownational anthemnavigationnoelnonclericalnonecclesiasticalnonministerialnonordainednonpastoralnonreligiousnotenumbobtundofferoilorientationpacifypadpalliateparkparlaypasspilotagepilotingplacateplaceplaneplanishplasterplayplay againstplay downplotplungepointpopularposepositpositionposition linepostpoulticepour balm intopour balm onpour oil onpresentprofanepropitiateprothalamiumpuntputput downput onput uponquarterradio bearingrangeraseratline downrazereclinereducereduce the temperaturereferrefrainrelievereposerepositrestrestrainrollroll flatrunsaddle withsalvescrewseatsecularsecularistsecularisticseeserenaserenadeserenataserveservicesetset downsettleshadeshavesketchslackenslakesleep withslow downsmoothsmooth downsmooth outsmooth oversmoothensmothersobersober downsoftensolosolo partsongsoothesoprano partspar downspawnsprawlspreadstakestand patstationsteamrollsteamrollersteeragesteeringstickstiflestrainstream the logstupesubduesubjectsubject tosubmitsuppresstake the edge offtametasktaxtempertemporaltendencytenortheme songtone downtorch songtracktraintranquilizetraverse a yardtrebletrendtunetune downturnunderplayunderstandableunlashunprofessionalunsacredunspellversevolksliedwagerwar songwarblewarpwayweakenwedding songweightweight down withyoke with
Adjective(7 words)
Noun(35 words)
nonclericnonclericalnonphysicistnonphysiologistnonprofessionalnontechnical languageold english laguold saxon laguparquetspavingpipelinesplaceplace adverbplain languageplanploppoemponeponesprofane art
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: ballad, abate, accredit, address, advance.
- Sentence evidence is available for lay, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "lay".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "lay"
Keep "lay" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "lay" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "lay", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "lay" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
30 entriesShowing 16 of 30 words.
More specific
19 entriesShowing 16 of 19 words.
Collocations
15 entrieslay a tablelay an egglay audiencelay brickslay carpetlay judgelay leadershiplay ministerlay ministrylay out a planlay personlay termslay the groundworklay traditionthe laity
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
3 entriesSample sentences
92 total sentences available.
Fan letters lay in a heap on the desk.
Source: tatoeba (20573)
Students of English often mix up the words 'lie' and 'lay'.
Source: tatoeba (26227)
We should lay on a second coat of paint for better protection against the weather.
Source: tatoeba (26665)
Showing 4 of 92 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "lay"?
Closest matches include ballad, abate, accredit, address, advance.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "lay"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.