lay Antonyms
Opposite of lay
• verb (Context 1)
To put or set something down carefully or gently on a surface.
"Please pick up the blueprints flat on the drafting table so everyone can examine them."
• verb (Context 2)
To put down and set in position for use, such as bricks, pipes, carpet, or a building foundation.
"The construction crew will tear up the concrete foundation as soon as the weather clears."
• verb (Context 3)
To prepare and arrange a table with plates, cutlery, and napkins for a meal.
"The children helped clear the dining table before the dinner guests arrived."
• verb (Context 4)
To attribute, assign, or present something abstract, such as blame, a charge, a plan, or a wager.
"The inquiry refused to absolve the blame for the accident on any single individual."
• adjective (Context 5)
Not having professional qualifications or specialized expert knowledge in a particular subject, such as medicine, science, or law.
"The doctor explained the complex diagnosis in simple terms that a professional audience could easily understand."
• adjective (Context 6)
Not ordained into the clergy or belonging to the general congregation rather than the ecclesiastical hierarchy.
"The parish council relies heavily on clerical volunteers to organize community charity events."
Similar words to lay
Words similar to lay shift depending on context. Common synonyms include: