lying Meaning & Definition
What Does Lying Mean?
As a verb, lying means present participle and gerund of lie (“to rest in a horizontal position”). As a noun, it means The act of one who lies, or keeps low to the ground. As a noun, it means An act or telling a lie or falsehood; the practice of telling lies.
Lying at a Glance
| Part of speech | verb, noun, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈlaɪ.ɪŋ// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | mendacious, prevarication and fabrication |
| Plural | lyings |
| Comparative / superlative | more lying, most lying |
Lying Definition (Verb)
- present participle and gerund of lie (“to rest in a horizontal position”)
Lying as a Noun
- The act of one who lies, or keeps low to the ground.
Verb
- present participle and gerund of lie (“to intentionally give false information”)
Noun
- An act or telling a lie or falsehood; the practice of telling lies.
Lying as an Adjective
- Tending to tell lies, untruthful, mendacious
Verb
- simple past and past participle of lye
Verb
- To rest in a horizontal position on a surface.
The book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin
- To be placed or situated.
- To abide; to remain for a longer or shorter time; to be in a certain state or condition.
The paper does not lie smooth on the wall.
- Used with in: to be or exist; to belong or pertain; to have an abiding place; to consist.
- Used with with: to have sexual relations with.
- Used with on/upon: to be incumbent (on); to be the responsibility of a person.
- To lodge; to sleep.
- To be still or quiet, like one lying down to rest.
- To be sustainable; to be capable of being maintained.
Verb
- To give false information intentionally with intent to deceive.
If you are found to have lied in court, you could face a penalty.
- To convey a false image or impression.
Photographs often lie.
- To be mistaken or unintentionally spread false information.
Sorry, I haven't seen your keys anywhere...wait, I lied! They're right there on the coffee table.
Noun
- An act of telling a lie or falsehood.
Synonyms of Lying
Lying synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Lying
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Lying in a Sentence
The book lies on the table; the snow lies on the roof; he lies in his coffin
The paper does not lie smooth on the wall.
If you are found to have lied in court, you could face a penalty.
Photographs often lie.
Sorry, I haven't seen your keys anywhere...wait, I lied! They're right there on the coffee table.
Word Forms & Grammar
lying
lying (plural lyings)
lying (not generally comparable, comparative more lying or lyinger, superlative most lying or lyingest)
Words That Rhyme With Lying
Origin of Lying
Origin 1: lie (“to rest in a horizontal position”) + -ing.
Origin 2: lie (“to intentionally give false information”) + -ing.
Origin 3: lye. (a chemical liquid)
How to Pronounce Lying
The standard pronunciation of lying is //ˈlaɪ.ɪŋ//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Lying
Is lying a verb or a noun?
Lying is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun and an adjective.
What is another word for lying?
Close synonyms of lying are mendacious, prevarication and fabrication. See the full list of lying synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of lying?
The plural of lying is lyings.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of lying?
The comparative form is more lying and the superlative form is most lying.