Synonyms

lie with

Idioms

Be decided by, dependent on, or up to. For example, The choice of restaurant lies with you. Starting about 1300 this phrase meant “to have sexual intercourse with,” a usage that is now obsolete. [Late 1800s]

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.

See Examples For:

lie with

The more plausible fix may lie with Congress.

From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026

On Wednesday, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the blame should lie with the individual who committed the attack.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

Leo XIV tossed away the diplomatic tact usually required of popes as he began a state visit to Spain on Saturday, revealing that his footballing loyalties lie with Real Madrid.

From Barron's ● Jun. 6, 2026

The final decision would lie with the Attorney General's office, the statement added.

From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026

But I have a greater vision for the next forty years—a vision of building a society where the lamb can truly lie with the lion and there will be peace.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023