Lay vs. Laid — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 27, 2024
Lay requires a direct object and is present tense, e.g., "I lay the book on the table," while laid is the past tense and past participle of lay, e.g., "I laid the book on the table."
Difference Between Lay and Laid
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Key Differences
Lay is a transitive verb, meaning it needs a direct object to complete its meaning. It refers to the act of placing or putting something down gently or carefully. Whereas, laid is the past tense and past participle form of lay, used to indicate the action was performed in the past.
When using lay in the present tense, you're talking about performing an action now, such as "I lay the blanket on the bed." On the other hand, when you use laid, you're referring to an action that has already been completed, "Yesterday, I laid the blanket on the bed."
Lay can also be used in various grammatical tenses with the help of auxiliary verbs to denote the time the action takes place. In contrast, laid serves as the simple past form and also works as the past participle needed for perfect tenses.
The verb lay might cause confusion because its base form is identical to the past tense of lie, which is a completely different verb meaning to recline. Meanwhile, laid clearly belongs to the lay family and does not have this ambiguity.
Understanding the difference between lay and laid is crucial for conveying the correct time frame of an action and for ensuring grammatical accuracy in writing and speech. Whereas using them incorrectly can lead to misunderstandings about the timing and nature of the action described.
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Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
To place or put down something
Past tense and past participle of lay
Grammatical Role
Present tense transitive verb
Past tense and past participle
Requires Direct Object
Yes
Yes
Example Present
E.g., "I lay the book on the table every morning."
N/A
Example Past
N/A
E.g., "Yesterday, I laid the book on the table."
Compare with Definitions
Lay
To place something in a specific position.
Lay the napkins beside the plates.
Laid
Past instance of putting in a specified state.
Laid the baby gently in her crib.
Lay
To set down and spread out materials.
Lay the bricks for the new walkway.
Laid
Placed or put down something in the past.
He laid the keys on the counter before leaving.
Lay
To put in a specified state or position.
Lay the cards face down on the table.
Laid
Past action of preparing or arranging something.
We laid the foundation for the new building last year.
Lay
To prepare or arrange.
Lay the groundwork for the upcoming project.
Laid
Completed the action of setting down materials.
They laid the carpet in the living room.
Lay
To put something down gently or carefully.
She lay the baby in the crib.
Laid
Acted in the past to place in a specific position.
She laid out the documents for review.
Lay
Put (something) down gently or carefully
She laid the baby in his cot
Laid
Of Lay.
Lay
Put down and set in position for use
It is advisable to have your carpet laid by a professional
Laid
Past tense and past participle of lay1.
Lay
Used with an abstract noun so that the phrase formed has the same meaning as the verb related to the noun used, e.g. ‘lay the blame on’ means ‘to blame’
She laid great stress on little courtesies
Laid
Simple past tense and past participle of lay
Lay
(of a female bird, insect, reptile, or amphibian) produce (an egg) from inside the body
The hens were laying at the same rate as usual
Flamingos lay only one egg
Laid
(of paper) Marked with parallel lines, as if ribbed, from wires in the mould.
Lay
Follow (a specified course)
I'm going to lay a course for Ibiza harbour
Laid
Set down according to a plan:
A carefully laid table with places set for four people
Stones laid in a pattern
Lay
Trim (a hedge) back, cutting the branches half through, bending them down, and interweaving them
Most hedges are no longer laid
Lay
The general appearance of an area of land
The lay of the surrounding countryside
Lay
The laying of eggs or the period during which they are laid
The onset of lay may be marked by a dropping of the duck's abdomen
Lay
A short lyric or narrative poem meant to be sung
A minstrel recited a series of lays
Lay
Not ordained into or belonging to the clergy
A lay preacher
Lay
Not having professional qualifications or expert knowledge, especially in law or medicine
A lay member of the Health Authority
Lay
To cause to lie down
Lay a child in its crib.
Lay
To place in or bring to a particular position
Lay the cloth over the painting.
Lay
To bury.
Lay
To cause to be in a particular condition
The remark laid him open to criticism.
Lay
To put or set down
Lay new railroad track.
Lay
To produce and deposit
Lay eggs.
Lay
To cause to subside; calm or allay
"chas'd the clouds ... and laid the winds" (John Milton).
Lay
To put up to or against something
Lay an ear to the door.
Lay
To put forward as a reproach or an accusation
They laid the blame on us.
Lay
To put or set in order or readiness for use
Lay the table for lunch.
Lay
To devise; contrive
Lay plans.
Lay
To spread over a surface
Lay paint on a canvas.
Lay
To place or give (importance)
Lay stress on clarity of expression.
Lay
To impose as a burden or punishment
Lay a penalty upon the offender.
Lay
To present for examination
Lay a case before a committee.
Lay
To put forward as a demand or an assertion
Laid claim to the estate.
Lay
(Games) To place (a bet); wager.
Lay
To aim (a gun or cannon).
Lay
To place together (strands) to be twisted into rope.
Lay
To make in this manner
Lay up cable.
Lay
To produce and deposit eggs.
Lay
To bet; wager.
Lay
(Nonstandard) To lie.
Lay
(Nautical) To put oneself into the position indicated.
Lay
Past tense of lie1.
Lay
The direction the strands of a rope or cable are twisted in
A left lay.
Lay
The amount of such twist.
Lay
The state of one that lays eggs
A hen coming into lay.
Lay
A narrative poem, such as one sung by medieval minstrels; a ballad.
Lay
A song; a tune.
Lay
Of, relating to, or involving the laity
A lay preacher.
Lay
Not of or belonging to a particular profession; nonprofessional
A lay opinion as to the seriousness of the disease.
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.
Lay
To cause to subside or abate.
Lay
(transitive) To prepare (a plan, project etc.); to set out, establish (a law, principle).
Lay
(transitive) To install certain building materials, laying one thing on top of another.
Lay brick;
Lay flooring
Lay
(transitive) To produce and deposit an egg.
The hen laid an egg
Did dinosaurs lay their eggs in a nest?
Lay
(transitive) To bet (that something is or is not the case).
I'll lay that he doesn't turn up on Monday.
Lay
(transitive) To deposit (a stake) as a wager; to stake; to risk.
Lay
(nautical) To take a position; to come or go.
To lay forward;
To lay aloft
Lay
(legal) To state; to allege.
To lay the venue
Lay
(military) To point; to aim.
To lay a gun
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
Lay
(printing) To place and arrange (pages) for a form upon the imposing stone.
Lay
(printing) To place (new type) properly in the cases.
Lay
To apply; to put.
Lay
To impose (a burden, punishment, command, tax, etc.).
To lay a tax on land
Lay
To impute; to charge; to allege.
Lay
To present or offer.
To lay an indictment in a particular county
I have laid the facts of the matter before you.
Lay
To lie: to rest in a horizontal position on a surface.
I found him laying on the floor.
Lay
When pertaining to position.
The baby lay in its crib and slept silently.
Lay
(proscribed) To be in a horizontal position; to lie (from confusion with lie).
Lay
To don or put on (tefillin phylacteries]]).
Lay
Arrangement or relationship; layout.
The lay of the land
Lay
A share of the profits in a business.
Lay
The direction a rope is twisted.
Worm and parcel with the lay; turn and serve the other way.
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
Common Curiosities
How do I use lay in a sentence?
"I lay the book on the table every morning."
Can lay and laid be used interchangeably?
No, they cannot be used interchangeably as they represent different tenses; lay is present tense, and laid is past tense or past participle.
Is laid the past participle of lay?
Yes, laid is also the past participle of lay.
What is the present participle of lay?
The present participle of lay is laying.
Can lay be confused with lie?
Yes, lay can be confused with lie, as lie also has a past tense form lay, but lie means to recline.
How do I use laid in a sentence?
"Yesterday, I laid the book on the table."
What is the past tense of lay?
The past tense of lay is laid.
What is the difference between lay and laid?
Lay is a present tense verb meaning to put or place something down, requiring a direct object, while laid is the past tense and past participle of lay.
Do lay and laid require a direct object?
Yes, both lay and laid require a direct object because they are transitive verbs.
Does the meaning of lay change in different contexts?
The core meaning of lay, to put or place something down, remains consistent across contexts.
What is a good way to practice using lay and laid correctly?
Practice by creating sentences that use lay and laid in different tenses and ensuring the presence of a direct object.
How can I remember the difference between lay and laid?
Think of lay as placing something now, and laid as having already placed it.
Are there any exceptions to the rules for lay and laid?
The rules for lay and laid are quite straightforward without exceptions; the main confusion usually arises with the verb lie.
How does tense affect the use of lay and laid?
Tense determines whether lay or laid is used, with lay for present or future actions and laid for past actions.
What common mistakes do people make with lay and laid?
People often mistake lay for the past tense of lie, or use laid without a direct object.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
