An Encylopedia Britannica Company

lie

1 lie /ˈlaɪ/ verb
lies; lay /ˈleɪ/ ; lain /ˈleɪn/ ; lying /ˈlajɪŋ/
1 lie
/ˈlaɪ/
verb
lies; lay /ˈleɪ/ ; lain /ˈleɪn/ ; lying /ˈlajɪŋ/
Britannica Dictionary definition of LIE
[no object]
of a person or animal
: to be in a flat position on a surface (such as a bed)
see picture at position
: to move from a standing or sitting position to a flat position on a surface
used to mark the place where a person is buried
of things : to be in a flat position on a surface
: to be or remain in a specified state or condition
always followed by an adverb or a preposition : to be in a specified direction
: to be located in a particular place
often used figuratively
British : to be at a specified level in a competition

how the land lies

see 1land

let sleeping dogs lie

see 1dog

lie ahead

: to be in the future

lie around

[phrasal verb] or British lie about
: to be lying in a disordered way
: to be somewhere within a general area or place
: to spend time resting in a lazy way

lie back

[phrasal verb]
: to lean backward from a sitting position to a flat position

lie behind

[phrasal verb]
lie behind (something)
: to be the cause of (something)

lie down

[phrasal verb]
: to move from a standing or sitting position to a flat position on a surface
lie down on the job : to fail to do your job : to neglect your responsibilities
◊ To take something lying down is to accept something bad, such as an insult or unfair treatment, without trying to fight against it.

lie in

[phrasal verb] British
: to stay in bed later than usual

lie in state

see 1state

lie in wait

see 2wait

lie low

: to try not to be noticed : to stay hidden or inactive in order to avoid being noticed or found

lie on/upon

[phrasal verb]
lie on/upon (someone or something)
: to affect someone in a specified way

lie with

[phrasal verb]
lie with (someone or something) not used in the progressive tenses used to say who has the blame or responsibility for something
lie with (someone) literary : to have sex with (someone)

make your bed and lie in it

see 1bed
compare 3lie
2 lie /ˈlaɪ/ noun
plural lies
2 lie
/ˈlaɪ/
noun
plural lies
Britannica Dictionary definition of LIE
[count]
: the position in which something lies on the ground see also lie of the land
compare 4lie
3 lie /ˈlaɪ/ verb
lies; lied; lying
3 lie
/ˈlaɪ/
verb
lies; lied; lying
Britannica Dictionary definition of LIE
[no object]
: to say or write something that is not true in order to deceive someone : to tell a lie
: to indicate or suggest something that is not true or accurate
compare 1lie
4 lie /ˈlaɪ/ noun
plural lies
4 lie
/ˈlaɪ/
noun
plural lies
Britannica Dictionary definition of LIE
[count]
: something untrue that is said or written to deceive someone
see also white lie

give the lie to

formal
: to show that (something) is not true

I tell a lie

British, informal
used to correct something you have just said

live a lie

: to live in a false or deceptive way : to live in a way that does not show who you truly are or what your feelings truly are
compare 2lie