verb A2 Elementary Very common

lie

leye

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Lie (verb) means to be in or move into a horizontal, resting position. Example: “He lay down on the sofa after a long day.”

verb

To be in or move into a horizontal, resting position.

"He lay down on the sofa after a long day."

"The cat likes to lie in the sun by the window."

To be located or situated somewhere.

"The village lies at the foot of the mountain."

To say something known to be false with the intention of deceiving.

"He lied about where he'd been all evening."

"She never lies, even when the truth is uncomfortable."

noun

A statement made with the intention to deceive.

"His whole alibi turned out to be a lie."

How to use lie

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "to rest in a horizontal position" or "to say something false" — two unrelated meanings that share the same spelling.

Common mistake

Lie (rest) / lay (past tense of lie, or "to place something") / lain (past participle) causes constant confusion: "I lie down today," "I lay down yesterday," "I have lain down." Separately, "lay" also means "to put something down" (present tense), which is a different verb entirely.

Easily confused with

lay →

Common pairings

tell a lie lie down lie in wait lie ahead

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: lies
Third person singular: lies
Past tense: lay, laid, lain, lien, lied
Archaic forms: layst, lyest, lyeth, liest, liedst, lieth

Test yourself on “lie” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The cat likes to _____ in the sun by the window.

Etymology

From Old English licgan ("to lie down") and, separately, leogan ("to tell an untruth") — two originally distinct Old English verbs that happen to look alike in modern English.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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recline rest lie down stretch out sprawl repose prevarication alternative fact anti-fact invention bluff canard

Antonyms

stand sit fact truth verity

Related words

put set stop fact death rest stand truth

Rhymes for lie

pie die tie sie vie hie i.e. brie movie eerie moxie bogie

See all rhymes for lie →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lie” mean?

The word “lie” means to be in or move into a horizontal, resting position. In plain terms, either "to rest in a horizontal position" or "to say something false" — two unrelated meanings that share the same spelling.

How do you pronounce “lie”?

“Lie” is pronounced leye (/laɪ̯/ in IPA).

How do you use “lie” in a sentence?

Here is “lie” used in a sentence: “The cat likes to lie in the sun by the window.”

What is another word for “lie”?

Words with a similar meaning to “lie” include alternative fact, anti-fact, invention, bluff, canard and cap.

What is the opposite of “lie”?

The opposite of “lie” — its antonyms — are fact, truth and verity.

What part of speech is “lie”?

Depending on how it is used, “lie” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “lie” come from?

The word “lie” comes from Old English. From Old English licgan ("to lie down") and, separately, leogan ("to tell an untruth") — two originally distinct Old English verbs that happen to look alike in modern English.

Is “lie” a common word?

“Lie” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

What is the difference between 'lie' and 'lay'?

In the resting sense, 'lie' takes no object, so you lie down yourself: 'I lie on the sofa.' 'Lay' needs an object, so you lay something down: 'I lay the book on the table.' The trick is that if something is being placed, use 'lay'; if a person or thing rests, use 'lie'.

What is the past tense of 'lie'?

For the resting sense, the past tense is 'lay' and the past participle is 'lain': 'yesterday I lay down', 'I have lain here for hours'. Confusingly, 'lay' is also its own separate verb meaning to place something, which is exactly why these two are so often mixed up.

What is the difference between 'lie down' and 'lay down'?

'Lie down' is what you do to yourself, as in 'I need to lie down.' 'Lay down' needs an object, so you lay down a tool or lay down the rules. Because the past tense of 'lie' happens to be 'lay', 'I lay down for a nap' is correct only when describing yesterday.

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