Lie down or Lay down: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: The choice between these phrases depends entirely on what you are doing. Use lie down when you intend to recline or rest your body, as the verb takes no object. Choose lay down only when you are placing a physical item on a surface, or if you are describing a past action of reclining.
The Short Answer
Lie down means to recline and takes no object such as I will lie down while reading. Lay down means to put something down like you should lay down the book immediately.
People confuse these because they sound identical and both relate to the act of resting. This confusion often arises because lay down is also the past tense of lie down, which adds complexity to the usage rules.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Lie down | Base form | To recline or rest without an object |
| Lay down | Base form | To place an object on a surface |
| Lay down | Past tense | To indicate past reclining actions |
Correct Example Sentences
- Please lie down on the sofa to relax.
- She lay down for a short nap yesterday.
- Lay down the tool before you clean up.
- The cat loves to lie down in the sun.
- He had to lay down his wallet.
- We need to lie down and think.
- They laid down the law for everyone.
- Don't lay down your phone on the bed.
- I will lie down now.
- Lay down the heavy box gently.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- He decided to lay down on the floor.
- He decided to lie down on the floor.
- I laid down last night for an hour.
- I lay down last night for an hour.
- Please lay down your keys.
- Please lay down your keys.
- She laid down the table.
- She lay down the table.
- The dog lay down during the storm.
- The dog lay down during the storm.
- We must lie down the rules.
- We must lay down the rules.
Related Word Pairs
- wear vs put on
- wear describes the state of having clothing on, while put on describes the action of dressing.
- sit vs set
- sit means to be seated without an object, whereas set means to place something down.
- rise vs raise
- rise is intransitive for going up, while raise is transitive for lifting something.
- wake up vs wake
- wake up is the action of starting to be awake, while wake is the past tense of wake.
- run vs run away
- run means to move fast on foot, while run away means to flee or escape.
- swim vs swim across
- swim means to move through water, while swim across specifies crossing to the other side.
- fall vs fell
- fall is the present tense for dropping down, and fell is the past tense of fall.
- break vs break up
- break means to damage something by force, while break up means to separate or end a relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use lie down instead of lay down?
Use lie down when you are describing an action where a person or animal is reclining or resting their body. This phrase never takes an object like a book or a bag, because the subject is the one doing the resting.
Why does lay down appear as the past tense of lie down?
Lay down is the past tense of the verb lie down, which describes the act of reclining. This overlap causes confusion because lay down is also used as the base form for placing objects down on a surface.
What is the difference between lay down and laid down?
Lay down is the base form used for placing objects or describing past reclining in some contexts, while laid down is the past tense of the verb lay, which means to place something. Laid down is never the past tense of lie down.
Can lie down take an object like a person?
No, the phrase lie down cannot take an object because the subject is the one performing the action of reclining. You cannot say lie down the dog; instead, use lay down the dog to mean placing the animal on the ground.
