lie
Lie (verb) means to be in or move into a horizontal, resting position. Example: “He lay down on the sofa after a long day.”
How to use lie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "to rest in a horizontal position" or "to say something false" — two unrelated meanings that share the same spelling.
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.
Word forms
lay past tense, laid past tense, lain past tense, lien past tense, lied past tense, lie plural, lay plural, lies plural, lie plural, lied plural, lies plural, Lies plural, lies singular, lie singular, lay singular, layst singular, lyest singular, lyeth singular, lies singular, lie singular, lied singular, liest singular, liedst singular, lieth singular
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for lie
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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