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• 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  

[lay-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.

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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

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of lay-by

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lay-by lay by

Renee MacRae's car was found on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry Quarry, south of Inverness, on 12 November 1976 but there was no sign of her, or three-year-old Andrew.

From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2026

With a queue of up to 20 vehicles backed up behind him, Hans pulled into what he thought was a lay-by to let traffic pass.

From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026

Rania's son, Yazan said the discovery of human remains more than a decade on at the lay-by area was a "surreal surprise to me and my family".

From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2025

But GMP said new information had led officers back to the lay-by for a fresh search this week.

From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2025

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

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

No. Those beds are very small and we were around people, but she always wanted me just to lay by her and snuggle up to her.

From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2015

Aragorn picked up Frodo where he lay by the wall and made for the stair, pushing Merry and Pippin in front of him.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

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