# lying

/ˈɫaɪɪŋ/ (US) · /lˈaɪɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lying
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. telling untruths

noun · CEFR B1

the act of saying things that you know are not true.

For teachers: the practice or act of making false statements with the intent to deceive.

- He realized that lying to his parents only made the situation worse.
- The witness was accused of persistent lying during the cross-examination, which severely undermined the credibility of the defense.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the general habit; countable when referring to specific instances.

### 2. resting horizontally

verb · CEFR A2

the action of being in a flat position on a surface, like a bed.

For teachers: the present participle of the intransitive verb 'lie', indicating a state of horizontal recumbency.

- I spent the whole afternoon lying on the grass and reading.
- Lying motionless on the forest floor, the researcher observed the rare birds without disturbing their natural behavior.

Usage: Intransitive; does not take a direct object.

### 3. untruthful

adjective · CEFR B2

describing someone who often tells lies.

For teachers: characterised by the habit of telling lies; mendacious.

- Don't believe a word he says; he is a lying cheat.
- The politician was forced to resign after a series of lying statements regarding his campaign finances came to light.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

## Examples

- Lying to your friends can ruin your relationship.
- The politician's career ended after his persistent lying about the campaign funds was exposed by the press.
- While some philosophers argue that lying is never morally permissible, others suggest that small deceptions can occasionally serve a greater social good by preventing unnecessary conflict.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.