Antonyms for lay back

Grammar : Verb

Spell : ley

Phonetic Transcription : leɪ

Definition of lay back

Origin : Old English lecgan "to place on the ground (or other surface)," also "put down (often by striking)," from Proto-Germanic *lagjanan (cf. Old Saxon leggian, Old Norse leggja, Old Frisian ledza, Middle Dutch legghan, Dutch leggen, Old High German lecken, German legen, Gothic lagjan "to lay, put, place"), causative of lie (v.2). As a noun, from 1550s, "act of laying." Meaning "way in which something is laid" (e.g. lay of the land) first recorded 1819.
Meaning "have sex with" first recorded 1934, in U.S. slang, probably from sense of "deposit" (which was in Old English, as in lay an egg, lay a bet, etc.), perhaps reinforced by to lie with, a phrase frequently met in the Bible. The noun meaning "woman available for sexual intercourse" is attested from 1930, but there are suggestions of it in stage puns from as far back as 1767. To lay for (someone) "await a chance at revenge" is from late 15c.; lay low "stay inconspicuous" is from 1839. To lay (someone) low preserves the secondary Old English sense.

As in abate : verb lessen, grow or cause to grow less
As in lull : verb calm, ease off
As in pacify : verb make peaceful; appease
As in relent : verb die down; let up
As in slack/slacken : verb do little or nothing; loosen
As in calm : verb make composed, quiet

Example sentences :

With parched throats, gasping for breath, they lay back in agony.
Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger

He had discarded his hat, and lay back on his elbows, ostensibly to look at the moon.
Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Johnny Rosenfeld lay back on the pillows and watched her face.
Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart

She would not let him speak much, and he lay back in his chair, looking at her.
Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens

My mother was now exhausted with so much talking, and lay back in an arm-chair.
Extract from : « My Double Life » by Sarah Bernhardt

He lay back in his chair while she folded the shawl about him, and smiled at her.
Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine

He lay back in the chair and puffed smoke above his head for a while.
Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine

Then he lay back at his ease, smoking, and staring up at the moon.
Extract from : « A Spirit in Prison » by Robert Hichens

She lay back in an arm-chair trying to piece things together.
Extract from : « A Nest of Spies » by Pierre Souvestre

She lay back on his shoulder again, and presently was more calm.
Extract from : « Polly of Lady Gay Cottage » by Emma C. Dowd

Synonyms for lay back

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019