laid
Laid (verb) means past tense and past participle of "lay" — to have placed something down. Example: “She laid the baby gently in the crib.”
How to Use Laid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past form of "lay" (to put something down), or, less commonly, a description of ribbed paper.
Don't confuse with "lay" (present tense, needs an object: "lay it down") or "lain" (past participle of "lie", meaning to rest: "he had lain there for hours"). "Laid" always needs an object — you laid something down.
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ the baby gently in the crib.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for laid
See all rhymes for laid →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “laid” mean?
The word “laid” means past tense and past participle of "lay" — to have placed something down. In plain terms, the past form of "lay" (to put something down), or, less commonly, a description of ribbed paper.
How do you pronounce “laid”?
“Laid” is pronounced layd (/leɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “laid” in a sentence?
Here is “laid” used in a sentence: “She laid the baby gently in the crib.”
What part of speech is “laid”?
Depending on how it is used, “laid” can be a verb and an adjective.
Is “laid” a common word?
“Laid” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “laid” have?
“Laid” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: past tense and past participle of "lay" — to have placed something down.
What is the difference between laid, lay, and lain?
"Laid" is the past tense of "lay" (to put something down): "she laid the book on the table." "Lay" is also the present of that verb and the past tense of "lie" (to recline): "he lay down." "Lain" is the past participle of "lie": "he had lain there for hours." The trick is whether an object is being placed.
Is it "laid" or "layed"?
It is always "laid." "Layed" is a common misspelling and is not accepted in standard English. Although many verbs form the past tense by adding "-ed," "lay" is irregular, so both its past tense and past participle are spelled "laid" — as in "he laid the bricks" and "the bricks were laid."
When should I use laid versus lay?
Use "laid" for the past: "yesterday I laid the tiles." Use "lay" for the present tense of placing something down: "each day I lay the tiles." Confusingly, "lay" is also the past of "lie" (to recline). If there is a direct object being set down, the past form you want is "laid."