lying
lying Lexical Profile
lying Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Habitually telling lies; deceitful, untruthful, or dishonest.
"The detective quickly saw through the suspect's lying alibi and pressed for the truth."
Positioned, resting, or situated horizontally or flat on a surface.
"The physical therapist demonstrated exercises to be performed from a lying position on the mat."
• noun
The act or practice of telling a deliberate falsehood or untruth with the intent to deceive.
"Persistent lying eroded the trust between the business partners over time."
The state or act of resting or remaining in a horizontal, recumbent position.
"Prolonged lying in a hospital bed can lead to muscle stiffness and poor circulation."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Lying" is the present participle and gerund of two distinct verbs meaning "to tell an untruth" and "to recline or rest flat." In the physical posture sense, it is frequently confused with "laying," which is transitive and requires a direct object (e.g., "He is lying on the sofa" vs. "He is laying the book on the table").
• Rhymes for lying
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed from the verb "lie" plus the suffix "-ing"; the sense of telling a falsehood descends from Old English "leogan" (to deceive or belie), while the posture sense descends from Old English "licgan" (to rest horizontally).