lay aside
Britishverb
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to abandon or reject
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to store or reserve for future use
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Give up, abandon, as in He laid aside all hopes of winning first prize . [First half of 1400s]
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Also, lay away ; lay by . Set apart for a reason, save for the future, as in They lay aside enough to pay the rent , or Because coffee prices were rising, she laid by enough for a month , or The store laid away the winter coat I wanted . [Early 1700s] The first variant gave rise, about 1970, to the term layaway plan , in which merchandise is laid away for a buyer who pays a deposit and receives it when payment is made in full. Also see lay down , def. 4; set aside .
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.
But of course everything is only temporary, including the good health I felt sure would enable me to lay aside the cane when my back was better.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
“This court is wary that jurors from Shelby County will not be able to lay aside their opinions or impressions and render a verdict based upon the evidence presented,” Mitchell said while announcing her ruling.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
He could lay aside speculation that negligence — a stove in the kitchen, faulty wiring — caused the fire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2023
"I think it is incumbent on the leaders of the country to lay aside their differences and create an environment where their people can flourish."
From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2023
Often we lay aside the cards and look about us.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
