26984 words

lied

10 definitions • 28 examples
1
to be in or move into a horizontal position on a surface:

Examples:

to lie in bed
to lie on a beach
to lie on your side
A cat lay in front of the fire.
He lies awake at night, worrying.
A pen lay on the desk.
2
If something lies in a particular place, position, or direction, it is in that place, position, or direction:

Examples:

There's an old pair of shoes of yours lying at/in the bottom of the wardrobe.
The river lies 30 km to the south.
The team is lying third in the league.
Here lies the body of Mary Taylor (= this is where Mary Taylor is buried).
There are several houses lying empty in the town.
The town lay in ruins.
The ship lies off (= is positioned near) the coast of Spain.
3
to exist:

Examples:

The hardest part of the competition still lies ahead of us.
4
If responsibility, blame, a decision, a choice, etc. lies with someone, they have responsibility, must make the decision, etc.:

Examples:

Where does the blame lie?
5
When the dead body of an important person lies in state, it is arranged so that the public can see and honour it before it is buried:

Examples:

Thousands of people came to pay their respects as his body lay in state.
6
to say or write something that is not true in order to deceive someone:

Examples:

Are you lying to me?
Don't trust her - she's lying.
I suspect he lies about his age.
7
something you say that you know is not true:

Examples:

I told a lie when I said I liked her haircut.
8
to be in or move into a horizontal position on a surface:

Examples:

[ I always + adv/prep ] The mechanic was lying on his back underneath my car.
[ I always + adv/prep ] I love to lie down in front of the fire and read.
[ L ] He lies awake at night, worrying.
9
If something lies in a particular place, position, condition, or direction it is in that place, position, condition, or direction:

Examples:

[ I always + adv/prep ] The river lies 40 miles to the south of us.
[ I always + adv/prep ] You shouldn’t leave that check lying around (= not in its place).
10
to say something that is not true in order to deceive:

Examples:

[ I ] Both witnesses lied to the police about what happened.
[ T always + adv/prep ] She lied her way past the guards.

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