lay away

verb

To reserve (something) for the future.

“Let's lay away that coat and we can pick it up next month.”

Similar
hoardstashcachehive upsquirrel away
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Meanings

verblay away (third-person singular simple present lays away, present participle laying away, simple past and past participle laid away)

present singular third person lays away · participle present laying away · participle past laid away · past laid away

  1. UKtransitiveTo reserve (something) for the future.
  2. UKtransitiveTo reserve (an item for sale in a store) for future purchase.

    Let's lay away that coat and we can pick it up next month.

  3. transitiveTo bury (someone).

    Legend has it that they laid him away in an unmarked grave.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbsave up as for future use

Similar
hoardstashcachehive upsquirrel away
Broader
savelay asidesave up
Also see
cachehive uphoardsavesquirrel awaystash

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

lay away. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20away

MLA

“lay away.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20away. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lay away,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20away.

Source: lay away on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.