lie

[ lahy ]

/ laɪ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR lie ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.

something intended or serving to convey a false impression; imposture: His flashy car was a lie that deceived no one.

an inaccurate or false statement; a falsehood.

the charge or accusation of telling a lie: He flung the lie back at his accusers.

verb (used without object), lied, ly·ing.

to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive.

to express what is false; convey a false impression.

verb (used with object), lied, ly·ing.

to bring about or affect by lying (often used reflexively): to lie oneself out of a difficulty; accustomed to lying his way out of difficulties.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

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Idioms for lie

give the lie to,

to accuse of lying; contradict.
to prove or imply the falsity of; belie: His poor work gives the lie to his claims of experience.

lie in one's throat/teeth, to lie grossly or maliciously: If she told you exactly the opposite of what she told me, she must be lying in her teeth.Also lie through one's teeth.

Origin of lie

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English lyge; cognate with German Lüge, Old Norse lygi; akin to Gothic liugn; (verb) Middle English lien, Old English lēogan (intransitive); cognate with German lügen, Old Norse ljūga, Gothic liugan

synonym study for lie

1. See falsehood.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lie

lie lye

Words nearby lie

lidia, lidice, lidless, lido, lidocaine, lie, lie detector, lie down, lie group, lie in, lie in state

Definition for lie (2 of 3)

lie²

[ lahy ]

/ laɪ /

verb (used without object), lay, lain, ly·ing.

to be in a horizontal, recumbent, or prostrate position, as on a bed or the ground; recline.

(of objects) to rest in a horizontal or flat position: The book lies on the table.

to be or remain in a position or state of inactivity, subjection, restraint, concealment, etc.: to lie in ambush.

to rest, press, or weigh (usually followed by on or upon): These things lie upon my mind.

to depend (usually followed by on or upon).

to be placed or situated: land lying along the coast.

to be stretched out or extended: the broad plain that lies before us.

to be in or have a specified direction; extend: The trail from here lies to the west.

to be found or located in a particular area or place: The fault lies here.

to consist or be grounded (usually followed by in): The real remedy lies in education.

to be buried in a particular spot: Their ancestors lie in the family plot.

Law. to be sustainable or admissible, as an action or appeal.

Archaic. to lodge; stay the night; sojourn.

noun

the manner, relative position, or direction in which something lies: the lie of the patio, facing the water.

the haunt or covert of an animal.

Golf. the position of the ball relative to how easy or how difficult it is to play.

Verb Phrases

lie by,

to pause for rest; stop activities, work, etc., temporarily.
to lie unused: Ever since the last member of the family died, the old house has lain by.

lie down, to assume a horizontal or prostrate position, as for the purpose of resting.

lie in,

to be confined to bed in childbirth.
Chiefly British. to stay in bed longer than usual, especially in the morning.

lie over, to be postponed for attention or action at some future time: The other business on the agenda will have to lie over until the next meeting.

lie up,

to lie at rest; stay in bed.
(of a ship) to dock or remain in dock.

lie with,

to be the duty or function of: The decision in this matter lies with him.
Archaic. to have sexual intercourse with.

Origin of lie

before 900; Middle English lien, liggen, Old English licgan; cognate with German liegen, Dutch liggen, Old Norse liggja, Gothic ligan; akin to Greek léchesthai to lie down

usage note for lie

See lay¹.

Definition for lie (3 of 3)

Lie

[ lee ]

/ li /

noun

Jonas,1880–1940, U.S. painter, born in Norway.

(Ma·ri·us) So·phus

[mah-ree-oo s soh-foo s] /ˌmɑ ri ʊs ˈsoʊ fʊs/,1842–99, Norwegian mathematician.

Tryg·ve Halv·dan

[trig-vuh hahlv-dahn; Norwegian tryg-vuh hahlv-dahn] /ˈtrɪg və ˈhɑlv dɑn; Norwegian ˈtrüg və ˈhɑlv dɑn/,1896–1968, Norwegian statesman: secretary-general of the United Nations 1946–53.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for lie

My doctor insisted that once I filed this piece I lie down on my bed and not get out.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I lie and nod my head yes while wiping the tears on my gray fleece sleeve.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I knew it was a lie from the beginning,” Patrick told WLOS.
Beaten By His Church for Being Gay|Justin Jones|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is, in fact, legal for police to lie to suspects during interrogations.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities|Elizabeth Picciuto|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But he drew me close And he swallowed me down, Down a dark slimy path Where lie secrets that I never want to know […].
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am satisfied now that my duties do not lie here, though the dear creatures here will be a constant motive for work and economy.
George Eliot's Life, Vol. I (of 3)|George Eliot
The buffaloes generally keep to the pools and muddy places, where they lie wallowing or basking in the warm mud for hours.
The Jungle Book|Rudyard Kipling
When all was ready the mother carried the bride to that chamber where she should lie, to disarray her for the night.
French Mediaeval Romances from the Lays of Marie de France|Marie de France
Could I lie here in bed, and let that delicate little thing work for me out there in the kitchen?
Rico and Wiseli|Johanna Spyri
Evidently these people had swallowed every lie his enemies had printed.
The Root of Evil|Thomas Dixon

British Dictionary definitions for lie (1 of 3)

lie¹

/ (laɪ) /

verb lies, lying or lied

(intr) to speak untruthfully with intent to mislead or deceive

(intr) to convey a false impression or practise deceptionthe camera does not lie

noun

an untrue or deceptive statement deliberately used to mislead

something that is deliberately intended to deceive

give the lie to

to disprove
to accuse of lying

Other words from lie

Related adjective: mendacious

Word Origin for lie

Old English lyge (n), lēogan (vb); related to Old High German liogan, Gothic liugan

British Dictionary definitions for lie (2 of 3)

lie²

/ (laɪ) /

verb lies, lying, lay (leɪ) or lain (leɪn) (intr)

(often foll by down) to place oneself or be in a prostrate position, horizontal to the ground

to be situated, esp on a horizontal surfacethe pencil is lying on the desk; India lies to the south of Russia

to be buriedhere lies Jane Brown

(copula) to be and remain (in a particular state or condition)to lie dormant

to stretch or extendthe city lies before us

(usually foll by on or upon) to rest or weighmy sins lie heavily on my mind

(usually foll by in) to exist or consist inherentlystrength lies in unity

(foll by with)

to be or rest (with)the ultimate decision lies with you
archaic to have sexual intercourse (with)

(of an action, claim, appeal, etc) to subsist; be maintainable or admissible

archaic to stay temporarily

lie in state See state (def. 13)

lie low

to keep or be concealed or quiet
to wait for a favourable opportunity

noun

the manner, place, or style in which something is situated

the hiding place or lair of an animal

golf

the position of the ball after a shota bad lie
the angle made by the shaft of the club before the upswing

lie of the land

the topography of the land
the way in which a situation is developing or people are behaving

See also lie down, lie in, lie to, lie up

Word Origin for lie

Old English licgan akin to Old High German ligen to lie, Latin lectus bed

undefined lie

See lay 1

British Dictionary definitions for lie (3 of 3)

Lie

/ (liː) /

noun

Trygve Halvdan (ˈtryɡvə ˈhalðan). 1896–1968, Norwegian statesman; first secretary-general of the United Nations (1946–52)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for lie

lie

[ lī ]

n.

The manner or position in which something is situated, especially the relation that the long axis of a fetus bears to that of its mother.

Idioms and Phrases with lie

lie

In addition to the idioms beginning with lie

lie down
lie in
lie in state
lie in wait
lie low
lie through one's teeth
lie with

also see:

barefaced lie
give the lie to
(lie) in state
lay of the land (how the land lies)
let sleeping dogs lie
make one's bed and lie in it
take lying down
white lie

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lie

noun