Lay close

Synonyms for lay close
verb hold close, cling to

welcome
love
enfold
seize
press
lock
clinch
envelop

nestle
cuddle
embrace
cradle
cherish
grasp
retain
nurse

squeeze
receive
clasp
bear hug
be near to
enbosom
fold in arms
follow closely

hold onto
keep close
lie close
stay near
take in one’s arms

Antonyms for lay close

reject
release
donate

turn away
let go
give

offer
free
push away

Synonyms
verb curl up

nuzzle
huddle
snug
bundle

cuddle
snuggle
burrow
lie against

lie close
make snug
move close
settle down

take shelter

Antonyms

separate

Usage Notes

Lay1 and lie2 are often confused. Lay is most commonly a transitive verb and takes an object. Its forms are regular. If “place” or “put” can be substituted in a sentence, a form of lay is called for: Lay the folders on the desk. The mason is laying brick. She laid the baby in the crib. Lay also has many intransitive senses, among them “to lay eggs” (The hens have stopped laying), and it forms many phrasal verbs, such as lay off “to dismiss (from employment)” or “to stop annoying or teasing” and lay over “to make a stop.” Lie, with the overall senses “to be in a horizontal position, recline” and “to rest, remain, be situated, etc.,” is intransitive and takes no object. Its forms are irregular; its past tense form is identical with the present tense or infinitive form of lay: Lie down, children. Abandoned cars were lying along the road. The dog lay in the shade and watched the kittens play. The folders have lain on the desk since yesterday. In all but the most careful, formal speech, forms of lay are commonly heard in senses normally associated with lie. In edited written English such uses of lay are rare and are usually considered nonstandard: Lay down, children. The dog laid in the shade. Abandoned cars were laying along the road. The folders have laid on the desk since yesterday.