verb
Common
laid
layd
Laid (verb) means past tense and past participle of "lay" — to have placed something down. Example: “She laid the baby gently in the crib.”
verb
1
Past tense and past participle of "lay" — to have placed something down.
"She laid the baby gently in the crib."
"He laid his cards on the table."
"They laid the carpet tiles carefully across the floor."
adj
1
Marked with fine parallel ribbing, as in a type of paper made using a ribbed mould.
"The invitations were printed on cream laid paper."
"The artist preferred laid paper because its ridges showed through the ink."
"Hold the laid sheet up to the light to see the faint lines."
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.
Common mistake
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.
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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."
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