laid
Americanverb
verb
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Explanation
Laid means "set down." If you built a brick wall, and then when it's done your neighbor complains that the wall crosses onto his property, tell him, "too late! The brick has already been laid." Laid is the past participle of the verb, lay, which means set down. So something that has been laid has already been set down. You might scramble up the eggs the chickens laid yesterday. Before your guests come over, your table should have been laid. Or you might examine the foundations that the builder laid down for the house you're building. We often use laid if we want to emphasize how carefully something has been done.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sarandos said original shows and films laid at the heart of those plans.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
In the 1999 corporate comedy “Office Space,” Riehle portrayed Tom, a middle manager who is laid off by the company before being seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident and winning a large settlement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
Before Damac arrived in Edgerton, the groundwork had been laid by NorthPoint Development, a Kansas City-based developer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
The farewell message was released as the 86-year-old broadcaster and campaigner's family confirmed she had been laid to rest in an "incredibly beautiful" private funeral last week.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
“She hasn’t laid an egg in days. She doesn’t have enough to eat.”
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
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