as in to store
to put (something of future use or value) in a safe or secret place
the weather forecast warned of a severe storm, so we laid away a generous supply of bottled water and canned food just in case
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in installment plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lay away
Tom Hyland, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021
Mac Schwerin, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2023
Retailers, for their part, created the layaway plan, which allowed consumers to reserve a product in return for a down payment, with further payments made throughout the year.
—Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 14 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for lay away 
Verb
Yet, despite the tannins, Freisa is not a wine to lay away in most examples, but rather one that should be enjoyed early on, often chilled, with soups, seafood or lighter meats.
—Tom Hyland, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021
Noun
Putting a banh mi on layaway—this is the world that buy-now, pay-later programs have wrought.
—Mac Schwerin, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2023
Retailers, for their part, created the layaway plan, which allowed consumers to reserve a product in return for a down payment, with further payments made throughout the year.
—Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 14 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for lay away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay away
Verb
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Iron Mountain’s mine that stores government retirement records was ripped as an example of inefficiency by Musk during a visit to the Oval Office.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2025
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Steiger suggests the fact that duvet covers can be stored more compactly than comforters might be contributing to their popularity in urban areas, where smaller living spaces often mean less storage area.—
Amy Panos,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In addition, Americans tend to purchase new phones via monthly installment plans through carriers and retailers rather than paying the full retail price up front.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2025
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In a social media thread, Ukrainian internal affairs adviser Anton Gerashchenko noted how Russia's Federal Tax Service (FTS) had filed claims against the mine of more than $2.24 million and that an installment plan for the payments was set up.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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First, there’s gear, or technology—the gadgets and doodads that must stash in your carryon alongside a laptop and cellphone.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
7 Feb. 2025
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My mom stashed everyone’s documents in her safe place underneath the mattress.—
Araceli Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The governor and mayor wrestled for control and credit before and after the blockbuster event, with Pritzker and allies winning out in a tiff over host committee leadership, and the two claiming credit for the event’s success when worries about out-of-control protests did not come to pass.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2025
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The proof theatrically is that the production is a rapt and riotous collective with a long list credits all seemingly on the same wildly unpredictable page.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The foundation stone for the 1.4 gigawatt Gorakhpur plant in the state of Haryana was laid in 2014, for instance, yet it is not expected to produce a single joule of energy until 2032 — 18 years later.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2025
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The eggs were laid in the nest overlooking Big Bear Lake.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacramento Bee,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The Benedict sawmill is laid up due to the weather.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
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The vote will be far from a lay up for the affable Louisiana conservative, even with the endorsement of President-elect Trump, the party’s undisputed leader.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When the smoke cleared, leaving stains on the green that didn’t affect their shots, Scheffler, who missed birdie puts by inches on 16 and 17, came up an inch short again on his 26-footer.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
23 June 2024
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Truman answers the questions put by Pearl’s diners.—
Liz Smith,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2024
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Thesaurus Entries Near lay away
Cite this Entry
“Lay away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay%20away. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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