Jump To:

• lay-by
  lay-by

  noun

  (on a road or railroad) a place beside the main road or track where vehicles may wait.
• lay by
  lay by

  see lay aside, def. 2.

lay-by

American  

[ley-bahy] / ˈleɪˌbaɪ /

noun

1. British. (on a road or railroad) a place beside the main road or track where vehicles may wait.

2. Nautical. a mooring place in a narrow river or canal, formed to one side so as to leave the channel free.

---

lay-by British  

noun

1. a place for drivers to stop at the side of a main road

2. nautical an anchorage in a narrow waterway, away from the channel

3. a small railway siding where rolling stock may be stored or parked

4. a system of payment whereby a buyer pays a deposit on an article, which is reserved for him until he has paid the full price

---

verb

1. (tr) to set aside or save for future needs

2. Also: lay to.  to cause (a sailing vessel) to stop in open water or (of a sailing vessel) to stop

lay by Idioms  

1. see lay aside, def. 2.

---

Etymology

Origin of lay-by

First recorded in 1795–1805; noun use of verb phrase lay by

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lay-by lay by

Welder fabricator Wesley was heading back to his workshop when he and his uncle noticed the car on fire in the lay-by.

From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2026

After warning lights came on, she pulled into a lay-by, but moments later smoke filled the car and she rushed to get out.

From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2026

The driver then stopped in a lay-by and called the police, the prosecutor said.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2023

The discovery of Renee MacRae's BMW on fire in a lay-by south of Inverness on Friday 12 November 1976 sparked one of the UK's longest murder inquiries.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2023

The man points to a line of small vans in a lay-by on the Turkish side.

From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell

The puck lay by itself tantalizingly in the crease before Spokane native Derek Ryan raced in and slammed it home to put Edmonton ahead 2-1.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 17, 2023

I once printed out a picture from the series and walked around in Central Park trying to see if I could tell where the work lay by triangulating the obelisk and the trees.

From New York Times ● Oct. 16, 2017

The front end of a forklift landed in Jeanette Holecek’s yard as she lay by the Chevy.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 10, 2017

Brody would lay by Marzec’s feet or rest his head on her lap when he sensed she was sad.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 5, 2015

Many of them hated the husbands who lay by their sides at night.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith