laid
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.the past tense of 'lay'; you use it when you put something down carefully in a flat position.
v.the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'lay', meaning to place something in a horizontal position.
Simple“She laid the sleeping baby in the crib and quietly left the room.”
In context“The workers laid the foundation for the new library during the summer months to avoid the autumn rains.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb form and must be followed by a direct object.
PitfallHe laid on the bed for an hour. He lay on the bed for an hour.In formal English, 'laid' requires an object (you lay something down). If you are resting yourself, the past tense is 'lay'.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
v.the past tense of 'lie' in casual speech; it means you were resting in a flat position.
v.the past tense of the intransitive verb 'lie', used colloquially or in certain dialects instead of the standard 'lay'.
Simple“I was so tired that I just laid there on the sofa all afternoon.”
In context“He had laid in wait for hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of the rare bird before the sun set.”
UsageWhile common in speech, this usage is often corrected to 'lay' in formal writing.
Teacher's tipLearners should be aware that many native speakers use 'laid' for both 'lay' and 'lie', though it is technically incorrect in formal contexts.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.a type of high-quality paper that has thin lines on it from the way it was made.
adj.referring to paper characterized by a ribbed texture of parallel lines produced by the wires of the mould during manufacture.
Simple“The wedding invitations were printed on expensive laid paper.”
In context“The historian identified the document's origin by examining the watermarks and the distinct texture of the laid paper.”
SynonymsribbedtexturedAntonymswove
Usage laid bare · laid the foundation