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lay aside

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To put something to one side to deal with later, or to stop letting something affect you.

Literal meaning: Transparent — to physically move something to the side and leave it there.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To put something down or stop working on it, intending to return to it later.

"She laid aside her knitting when the phone rang."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic formal

To deliberately stop considering or being influenced by something (differences, emotions, prejudices).

"Both sides agreed to lay aside their political differences in order to tackle the crisis together."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 neutral

To save or reserve something (especially money) for future use.

"Every month he laid aside a small amount for his daughter's education."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Used in both physical and abstract contexts. In physical contexts: putting a book down, setting tools aside. In abstract contexts: laying aside differences, concerns, or prejudices — implying a deliberate choice to ignore or suppress something. Slightly formal compared to 'put aside'.

Commonly used with

differences prejudices work concerns book savings

Forms

Base
lay aside
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lays aside
he/she/it
Past simple
laid aside
yesterday
Past participle
laid aside
have + pp
-ing form
laying aside
continuous

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Synonyms

put aside set aside shelve save reserve table

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