Laid: meaning, definitions and examples

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laid

 

[ leɪd ]

Verb / Adjective
Context #1 | Verb

past tense

Laid is the past tense of lay, which means to put something down gently or carefully. It can also refer to preparing a surface or setting out items, like laying a table for a meal.

Synonyms

placed, put, set down

Examples of usage

  • She laid the book on the table.
  • He laid the groundwork for his future success.
  • They laid out all the materials for the project.
Context #2 | Adjective

idle or relaxed

Laid can also describe a relaxed state or a casual approach to something, often used in the phrase 'laid back'. It refers to a person who is easy-going and not easily upset.

Synonyms

easygoing, relaxed, unconstrained

Examples of usage

  • He has a laid attitude toward life.
  • She enjoyed a laid back weekend at the cabin.
  • Their laid demeanor made everyone feel comfortable.

Translations

Translations of the word "laid" in other languages:

🇵🇹 deitado

🇮🇳 लिटाया हुआ

🇩🇪 gelegt

🇮🇩 diletakkan

🇺🇦 покладений

🇵🇱 położony

🇯🇵 置かれた

🇫🇷 posé

🇪🇸 colocado

🇹🇷 yatan

🇰🇷 놓인

🇸🇦 موضوعة

🇨🇿 položený

🇸🇰 položený

🇨🇳 放置的

🇸🇮 položen

🇮🇸 lagður

🇰🇿 жатқан

🇬🇪 დადებული

🇦🇿 yatmış

🇲🇽 colocado

Etymology

The word 'laid' originates from the Old English 'lǣdan', which meant 'to cause to go, to lead', and later evolved into a sense of laying something down. Its usage has changed over time; in Middle English, 'layen' was used for both to put down and to cause a person or thing to rest. The past form 'laid' emerged as the distinct past tense of 'lay', which is part of a strong verb paradigm in the English language. Interestingly, the confusion between 'lay' and 'lie' has been a subject of debate among grammarians and users of the English language, leading to a mixture of forms being used in contemporary speech. The dual meaning of 'laid', both as a past tense verb and an adjective, showcases the richness of English vocabulary where context dictates meaning and usage.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,118, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.