Word
laying
Phoneticslay·ing
US/ˈɫeɪɪŋ/
UK/lˈeɪɪŋ/
Definitions
01putting something down
v. the action of placing something flat or in a specific position.
v. the present participle of 'lay', describing the act of placing an object on a surface or in a horizontal position.
“The workers are laying the new carpet in the living room today.”
“The technicians spent the afternoon laying the foundation for the new laboratory equipment, ensuring every measurement was precise before the concrete set.”
Pitfall
He is laying on the bed.
He is lying on the bed.
Use 'laying' only when you are putting an object down. If a person is resting, use 'lying'.
Synonyms
02producing eggs
n. the process of a bird or insect producing eggs.
n. the act of producing or depositing eggs, typically used in an agricultural or biological context.
“The farmer checked the hens to see if their egg laying had increased.”
“The study observed that the laying cycle of the local bird population was significantly affected by the unusually cold spring weather.”
Synonyms
03construction or arrangement
n. the act of building or arranging something, like bricks or pipes.
n. the systematic placement or arrangement of materials in construction or infrastructure.
“The laying of the new water pipes caused some traffic delays.”
“The precise laying of the stone tiles required a high level of craftsmanship to ensure the pattern remained consistent across the entire hall.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Norwegians have been laying flowers outside the royal palace in Oslo since news broke that Harald had died on Friday.” “After laying their family members to rest, the brothers went to live with their father in a modest, working-class neighbourhood of low-rise houses in the north-eastern outskirts of Cali, Colombia.”