1
: the action of laying up or the condition of being laid up
2
: a shot in basketball made from near the basket usually by playing the ball off the backboard
laid up; laying up; lays up
1
: to store up : lay by
2
: to disable or confine with illness or injury
a knee injury laid him up for a week
3
: to take out of active service
Examples of layup in a Sentence
Verb
an eating disorder that would impel her to lay up candy bars in her closet for all-night food binges
Recent Examples on the Web
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
After Maryland opened the scoring with a fastbreak layup by Gillespie just 23 seconds into the game, Florida seized control, eventually racing to a 20-9 advantage that included 11 straight points in a 3:30 stretch.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025
Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Mar. 2025
Morikawa was laid up 90 yards out, while Henley's approach sailed right of the green.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layup
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Noun
The 6-foot-10, 255-pound sophomore had two dunks and a layup off nice feeds as the Gators had 6 assists on their first eight field goals to stake 52-42 lead.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
After Maryland opened the scoring with a fastbreak layup by Gillespie just 23 seconds into the game, Florida seized control, eventually racing to a 20-9 advantage that included 11 straight points in a 3:30 stretch.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
He was laid up in bed for five weeks in the summer of 1919 but returned to the job that fall.
—Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Mar. 2025
Morikawa was laid up 90 yards out, while Henley's approach sailed right of the green.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for layup
Cite this Entry
“Layup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/layup. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
layup
1 of 2 noun
lay·up
ˈlā-ˌəp 
: a basketball shot made from near the basket usually by bouncing the ball off the backboard
lay up
2 of 2 verb1
: to store up
2
: to disable or confine with illness or injury
a knee injury laid her up for a week
3
: to take out of active service
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