Lay vs. Lie
The main difference between the verbs lay and lie is that the word lay is a transitive verb, as there is a direct object following it and the word ‘lie’ is an intransitive verb because it does not have any direct object.
Key Differences
Lay means “to put or place” whereas lie means “to rest,” “to assume or be situated in a horizontal position.”
Lay refer to putting something down in a horizontal position while lie is used to place in a horizontal position.
The verb lay is a transitive verb, as there is a direct object following it on the flip side the word ‘lie’ is an intransitive verb, as it does not have any direct object.
Lay requires a direct object conversely lie does not require a direct object.
Janet White
Aug 01, 2019
The verb lay indicates an action in progress; on the other hand, the verb lie indicates a person's position.
Comparison Chart
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A verb which means to put or place a person/object down in an even position
A verb which means to recline or to rest on a surface, with back supported
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Pronunciation
leɪ
lʌɪ
Kind of Verb
Transitive Verb
Intransitive Verb
Lay and Lie Definitions
Lay
To cause to lie down
Lay a child in its crib.
Lie
To be or place oneself at rest in a flat, horizontal, or recumbent position; recline
He lay under a tree to sleep.
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Lay
To place in or bring to a particular position
Lay the cloth over the painting.
Lie
To be placed on or supported by a surface that is usually horizontal
Dirty dishes lay on the table. See Usage Note at lay1.
Lay
To bury.
Lie
To be or remain in a specified condition
The dust has lain undisturbed for years. He lay sick in bed.
Lay
To cause to be in a particular condition
The remark laid him open to criticism.
Lie
To exist; reside
Our sympathies lie with the plaintiff.
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Lay
To put or set down
Lay new railroad track.
Lie
To consist or have as a basis. Often used with in
The strength of his performance lies in his training.
Lay
To produce and deposit
Lay eggs.
Lie
To occupy a position or place
The lake lies beyond this hill.
Lay
To cause to subside; calm or allay
"chas'd the clouds ... and laid the winds" (John Milton).
Lie
To extend
Our land lies between these trees and the river.
Lay
To put up to or against something
Lay an ear to the door.
Lie
To be buried in a specified place.
Lay
To put forward as a reproach or an accusation
They laid the blame on us.
Lie
(Law) To be admissible or maintainable.
Lay
To put or set in order or readiness for use
Lay the table for lunch.
Lie
(Archaic) To stay for a night or short while.
Lay
To devise; contrive
Lay plans.
Lie
To present false information with the intention of deceiving.
Lay
To spread over a surface
Lay paint on a canvas.
Lie
To convey a false image or impression
Appearances often lie.
Lay
To place or give (importance)
Lay stress on clarity of expression.
Lie
To say or write as a lie.
Lay
To impose as a burden or punishment
Lay a penalty upon the offender.
Lie
The manner or position in which something is situated.
Lay
To present for examination
Lay a case before a committee.
Lie
A haunt or hiding place of an animal.
Lay
To put forward as a demand or an assertion
Laid claim to the estate.
Lie
(Sports) The position of a golf ball that has come to a stop.
Lay
(Games) To place (a bet); wager.
Lie
A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood.
Lay
To aim (a gun or cannon).
Lie
Something meant to deceive or mistakenly accepted as true
Learned his parents had been swindlers and felt his whole childhood had been a lie.
Lay
To place together (strands) to be twisted into rope.
Lie
(intransitive) To rest in a horizontal position on a surface.
The book lies on the table;
The snow lies on the roof;
He lies in his coffin
Lay
To make in this manner
Lay up cable.
Lie
(intransitive) To be placed or situated.
Lay
Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with.
Lie
To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition.
To lie waste; to lie fallow; to lie open; to lie hidden; to lie grieving; to lie under one's displeasure; to lie at the mercy of the waves
The paper does not lie smooth on the wall.
Lay
To produce and deposit eggs.
Lie
Used with in: to be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist.
Lay
To bet; wager.
Lie
Used with with: to have sexual relations with.
Lay
(Nonstandard) To lie.
Lie
Used with on/upon: to be incumbent (on); to be the responsibility of a person.
Lay
(Nautical) To put oneself into the position indicated.
Lie
(archaic) To lodge; to sleep.
Lay
Past tense of lie1.
Lie
To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest.
Lay
The direction the strands of a rope or cable are twisted in
A left lay.
Lie
(legal) To be sustainable; to be capable of being maintained.
Lay
The amount of such twist.
Lie
(intransitive) To give false information intentionally with intent to deceive.
When Pinocchio lies, his nose grows.
If you are found to have lied in court, you could face a penalty.
While a principle-based approach might claim that lying is always morally wrong, the casuist would argue that, depending upon the details of the case, lying might or might not be illegal or unethical. The casuist might conclude that a person is wrong to lie in legal testimony under oath, but might argue that lying actually is the best moral choice if the lie saves a life.
Lay
The state of one that lays eggs
A hen coming into lay.
Lie
(intransitive) To convey a false image or impression.
Photographs often lie.
Lay
Sexual intercourse.
Lie
To be mistaken or unintentionally spread false information.
Sorry, I haven't seen your keys anywhere...wait, I lied! They're right there on the coffee table.
Lay
A partner in sexual intercourse.
Lie
(golf) The terrain and conditions surrounding the ball before it is struck.
Lay
A narrative poem, such as one sung by medieval minstrels; a ballad.
Lie
(disc golf) The terrain and conditions surrounding the disc before it is thrown.
Lay
A song; a tune.
Lie
(medicine) The position of a fetus in the womb.
Lay
Of, relating to, or involving the laity
A lay preacher.
Lie
A manner of lying; relative position.
Lay
Not of or belonging to a particular profession; nonprofessional
A lay opinion as to the seriousness of the disease.
Lie
An animal's lair.
Lay
(transitive) To place down in a position of rest, or in a horizontal position.
To lay a book on the table;
To lay a body in the grave
A shower of rain lays the dust.
Lie
An intentionally false statement; an intentional falsehood.
I knew he was telling a lie by his facial expression.
Lay
To cause to subside or abate.
Lie
A statement intended to deceive, even if literally true.
Lay
(transitive) To prepare (a plan, project etc.); to set out, establish (a law, principle).
Lie
(by extension) Anything that misleads or disappoints.
Lay
(transitive) To install certain building materials, laying one thing on top of another.
Lay brick;
Lay flooring
Lie
See Lye.
Lay
(transitive) To produce and deposit an egg.
The hen laid an egg
Did dinosaurs lay their eggs in a nest?
Lie
A falsehood uttered or acted for the purpose of deception; an intentional violation of truth; an untruth spoken with the intention to deceive.
The proper notion of a lie is an endeavoring to deceive another by signifying that to him as true, which we ourselves think not to be so.
It is willful deceit that makes a lie. A man may act a lie, as by pointing his finger in a wrong direction when a traveler inquires of him his road.
Lay
(transitive) To bet (that something is or is not the case).
I'll lay that he doesn't turn up on Monday.
Lie
A fiction; a fable; an untruth.
Lay
(transitive) To deposit (a stake) as a wager; to stake; to risk.
Lie
Anything which misleads or disappoints.
Wishing this lie of life was o'er.
Lay
To have sex with.
Lie
The position or way in which anything lies; the lay, as of land or country.
He surveyed with his own eyes . . . the lie of the country on the side towards Thrace.
Lay
(nautical) To take a position; to come or go.
To lay forward;
To lay aloft
Lie
To utter falsehood with an intention to deceive; to say or do that which is intended to deceive another, when he a right to know the truth, or when morality requires a just representation.
Lay
(legal) To state; to allege.
To lay the venue
Lie
To rest extended on the ground, a bed, or any support; to be, or to put one's self, in an horizontal position, or nearly so; to be prostate; to be stretched out; - often with down, when predicated of living creatures; as, the book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin.
The watchful traveler . . . Lay down again, and closed his weary eyes.
Lay
(military) To point; to aim.
To lay a gun
Lie
To be situated; to occupy a certain place; as, Ireland lies west of England; the meadows lie along the river; the ship lay in port.
Lay
(ropemaking) To put the strands of (a rope, a cable, etc.) in their proper places and twist or unite them.
To lay a cable or rope
Lie
To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition; as, to lie waste; to lie fallow; to lie open; to lie hid; to lie grieving; to lie under one's displeasure; to lie at the mercy of the waves; the paper does not lie smooth on the wall.
Lay
(printing) To place and arrange (pages) for a form upon the imposing stone.
Lie
To be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist; - with in.
Envy lies between beings equal in nature, though unequal in circumstances.
He that thinks that diversion may not lie in hard labor, forgets the early rising and hard riding of huntsmen.
Lay
(printing) To place (new type) properly in the cases.
Lie
To lodge; to sleep.
Whiles I was now trifling at home, I saw London, . . . where I lay one night only.
Mr. Quinion lay at our house that night.
Lay
To apply; to put.
Lie
To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest.
The wind is loud and will not lie.
Lay
To impose (a burden, punishment, command, tax, etc.).
To lay a tax on land
Lie
To be sustainable; to be capable of being maintained.
What he gets more of her than sharp words, let it lie on my head.
Lay
To impute; to charge; to allege.
Lie
A statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
Lay
To present or offer.
To lay an indictment in a particular county
I have laid the facts of the matter before you.
Lie
Norwegian diplomat who was the first Secretary General of the United Nations (1896-1968)
Lay
To lie: to rest in a horizontal position on a surface.
I found him laying on the floor.
Lie
Position or manner in which something is situated
Lay
When pertaining to position.
The baby lay in its crib and slept silently.
Lie
Be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
Lay
(proscribed) To be in a horizontal position; to lie (from confusion with lie).
Lie
Be lying, be prostrate; be in a horizontal position;
The sick man lay in bed all day
The books are lying on the shelf
We had to stand for the entire performance!
Lay
To don or put on (tefillin phylacteries]]).
Lie
Originate (in);
The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country
Lay
Arrangement or relationship; layout.
The lay of the land
Lie
Be and remain in a particular state or condition;
Lie dormant
Lay
A share of the profits in a business.
Lie
Tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive;
Don't lie to your parents
She lied when she told me she was only 29
Lay
The direction a rope is twisted.
Worm and parcel with the lay; turn and serve the other way.
Lie
Have a place in relation to something else;
The fate of Bosnia lies in the hands of the West
The responsibility rests with the Allies
Lay
(colloquial) A casual sexual partner.
What was I, just another lay you can toss aside as you go on to your next conquest?
Lie
Assume a reclining position;
Lie down on the bed until you feel better
Lay
(colloquial) An act of sexual intercourse.
Lay
A place or activity where someone spends a significant portion of their time.
Lay
The laying of eggs.
The hens are off the lay at present.
Lay
(obsolete) A layer.
Lay
(obsolete) A basis or ground.
Lay
A lake.
Lay
A ballad or sung poem; a short poem or narrative, usually intended to be sung.
Lay
A lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals with tales of adventure and romance.
Lay
(obsolete) A meadow; a lea.
Lay
(obsolete) A law.
Lay
(obsolete) An obligation; a vow.
Lay
Not belonging to the clergy, but associated with them.
They seemed more lay than clerical.
A lay preacher; a lay brother
Lay
Non-professional; not being a member of an organized institution.
Lay
(card games) Not trumps.
A lay suit
Lay
(obsolete) Not educated or cultivated; ignorant.
Lay
Of Lie, to recline.
Lay
Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother.
Lay
Not educated or cultivated; ignorant.
Lay
Not belonging to, or emanating from, a particular profession; unprofessional; as, a lay opinion regarding the nature of a disease.
Lay
A song; a simple lyrical poem; a ballad.
Lay
A melody; any musical utterance.
The throstle cock made eke his lay.
Lay
The laity; the common people.
The learned have no more privilege than the lay.
Lay
A meadow. See Lea.
Lay
Faith; creed; religious profession.
Of the sect to which that he was bornHe kept his lay, to which that he was sworn.
Lay
A law.
Lay
An obligation; a vow.
They bound themselves by a sacred lay and oath.
Lay
That which lies or is laid or is conceived of as having been laid or placed in its position; a row; a stratum; a layer; as, a lay of stone or wood.
A viol should have a lay of wire strings below.
Lay
A wager.
Lay
A job, price, or profit.
Lay
A measure of yarn; a lea. See 1st Lea (a).
Lay
A plan; a scheme.
Lay
To cause to lie down, to be prostrate, or to lie against something; to put or set down; to deposit; as, to lay a book on the table; to lay a body in the grave; a shower lays the dust.
A stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den.
Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid.
Lay
To place in position; to establish firmly; to arrange with regularity; to dispose in ranks or tiers; as, to lay a corner stone; to lay bricks in a wall; to lay the covers on a table.
Lay
To prepare; to make ready; to contrive; to provide; as, to lay a snare, an ambush, or a plan.
Lay
To spread on a surface; as, to lay plaster or paint.
Lay
To cause to be still; to calm; to allay; to suppress; to exorcise, as an evil spirit.
After a tempest when the winds are laid.
Lay
To cause to lie dead or dying.
Brave Cæneus laid Ortygius on the plain,The victor Cæneus was by Turnus slain.
Lay
To deposit, as a wager; to stake; to risk.
I dare lay mine honorHe will remain so.
Lay
To bring forth and deposit; as, to lay eggs.
Lay
To apply; to put.
She layeth her hands to the spindle.
Lay
To impose, as a burden, suffering, or punishment; to assess, as a tax; as, to lay a tax on land.
The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Lay
To impute; to charge; to allege.
God layeth not folly to them.
Lay the fault on us.
Lay
To impose, as a command or a duty; as, to lay commands on one.
Lay
To present or offer; as, to lay an indictment in a particular county; to lay a scheme before one.
Lay
To state; to allege; as, to lay the venue.
Lay
To point; to aim; as, to lay a gun.
Lay
To put the strands of (a rope, a cable, etc.) in their proper places and twist or unite them; as, to lay a cable or rope.
Lay
To place and arrange (pages) for a form upon the imposing stone.
And laid those proud roofs bare to summer's rain.
Let brave spirits . . . not be laid by.
No selfish man will be concerned to lay out himself for the good of his country.
Lay
To produce and deposit eggs.
Lay
To take a position; to come or go; as, to lay forward; to lay aloft.
Lay
To lay a wager; to bet.
Lay
A narrative song with a recurrent refrain
Lay
A narrative poem of popular origin
Lay
Put into a certain place or abstract location;
Put your things here
Set the tray down
Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
Place emphasis on a certain point
Lay
Put in a horizontal position;
Lay the books on the table
Lay the patient carefully onto the bed
Lay
Prepare or position for action or operation;
Lay a fire
Lay the foundation for a new health care plan
Lay
Lay eggs;
This hen doesn't lay
Lay
Impose as a duty, burden, or punishment;
Lay a responsibility on someone
Lay
Concerning those not members of the clergy;
Set his collar in laic rather than clerical position
The lay ministry
The choir sings both sacred and secular music
Lay
Not of or from a profession;
A lay opinion as to the cause of the disease
Lay vs. Lie
Lay and Lie are a pair of words. They have different spelling, and different pronunciation. Lay and lie have very different meanings. Lay means “to put or place.” lie means “to rest,” “to assume or be situated in a horizontal position.” Lay refer to putting something down in a horizontal position. The lie is used to place in a horizontal position. It has one more meaning, which is to make an untrue statement. (A second verb ‘to lie means’ to deceive, or to pass off false information as if it were the truth.) An example to clear the prior concept is, John, laid the laptop on the table and lay on the couch. In this example, laid (simple past form of the verb ‘lay’) is used to mean that the laptop is placed on the table. Whereas, lied (simple past form of the verb ‘lie’) which means that the subject rests on the couch. This need to be clear that in case of lay, you lay something down. But in case of a lie, you lie down. Hence, lay requires a direct object. A lie does not require a direct object. This rule also applies to lay and to lie (not lieng). The verb lay is a transitive verb, as there is a direct object following it. The word ‘lie’ is an intransitive verb, as it does not have any direct object.
What is Lay?
We use the word ‘lay’ to put or place an object in an even position, i.e., to arrange something in a horizontal position. The verb lay is a transitive verb; hence, it always requires a direct object. It describes an action done to something, so it must have a direct object, i.e., something or someone has to be receiving the action of the verb to lay. As the meaning of this verb “to place,” “to put” is revealing that there is something in the sentence must be getting “put” or “placed.” Lay means to put an object or a person down in a flat position. When we use to lay in a sentence, it means that we are putting down an inanimate object. The verb lay represents an action that is under progress. The past tense of lay is laid. The verb to lay is conjugated with the direct object in each sentence.
Examples
- SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE: I lay my mobile phone on the table every night before turning out the lamp.
- CONTINUOUS PRESENT TENSE: I am laying my mobile phone on the table right now.
- PAST TENSE: I laid my mobile phone on the table last night.
- FUTURE TENSE: I will lay my mobile phone on the table tonight.
- PAST PERFECT TENSE: I have laid my mobile phone on the table every night for years.
What is Lie?
The word lie refers “to be” or “to move in a reclining or resting position on a surface,” i.e., sofa, bed, floor, or any other object. Lie means “to assume or be situated in a horizontal position, to rest. The lie is used to place in a horizontal position. It has one more meaning, which is to make an untrue statement. (A second verb lie means to deceive or to pass off false information as if it were the truth.) A lie does not require a direct object. The word ‘lie’ is an intransitive verb, as it does not have any direct object. Lie shows some action. The subject of the sentence involves in that action, but nothing is being acted upon (it has no direct object). The verb ‘to lie’ does not express the kind of action that can be done to anything, such as the meaning “to recline” or “to rest.” It is also used in different meanings. These are to set something in the flat position, to produce eggs, to risk something, usually as a bet, to make a plan, and to make a claim, blame or accuse someone in a formal manner. The examples for these are, he laid the files on the desk, hen lay eggs, he would not win that game, I would lay thousands on it, are you aware of the allegations laid on you.
Examples
- SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE: I lie here on this couch every day.
- CONTINUOUS PRESENT TENSE: I am lying here on this couch right now.
- PAST TENSE: I lay here on this couch
- FUTURE TENSE: I will lie here on this couch
- PAST PERFECT TENSE: I have lain here on this couch every day for years.
