Phrase guide

lay away

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To reserve (something) for the future.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To reserve (an item for sale in a store) for future purchase.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, transitive

Examples

  • Let's lay away that coat and we can pick it up next month.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To bury (someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Legend has it that they laid him away in an unmarked grave.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

save up as for future use

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hoard, stash, cache, hive up, squirrel away

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: save, lay aside, save up

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.