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lay out — 3 meanings

Same words, different jobs. Compare the meanings side by side so you know which one fits the situation.

phrasal verb3 meanings
lay outsame phrase

Which one do you mean?

arrange or plan something

She laid out her plan for the new project during the meeting.

spread things out so you can see them

He laid out all his tools on the table before starting work.

spend money

I had to lay out nearly £2,000 for car repairs last month.

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Meanings in detail

1. arrange or plan something

B2neutralboth

to organize, explain, or plan something clearly, often step by step.

She laid out her plan for the new project during the meeting.

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to put objects or items in a neat way so that each one is easy to see or use.

He laid out all his tools on the table before starting work.

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3. spend money

C1informalspoken

to spend a significant amount of money on something, often more than expected or with some reluctance.

I had to lay out nearly £2,000 for car repairs last month.

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